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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bank — for money
  3. branch — a division
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. can — to be able to
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. board — a committee
  12. board — to get on
  13. bank — of a river
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. bank — for money
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. roll — a list
  20. can — a tin
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. roll — a cake
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. trunk — of an elephant

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com