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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 116 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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. prune — to trim
  3. charge — a price
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. suit — in cards
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. branch — a division
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. charge — in control
  14. prune — to trim
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. charge — electricity
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. suit — to fit
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. suit — clothes

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