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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 120 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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. saw — the tool
  4. can — a tin
  5. fine — high quality
  6. can — to be able to
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. saw — the tool
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. fine — all right
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. wound — an injury
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. rush — hurry
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. wound — an injury
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. branch — a division

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