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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. bank — for money
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. fall — to drop
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. fall — the season
  11. ball — a dance
  12. bulb — for light
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. bulb — for light
  15. snap — to click
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. fall — to drop
  18. ball — a great time
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. bank — of a river
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. bank — for money

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