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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. can — to be able to
  3. bass — the fish
  4. branch — a division
  5. board — a committee
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. can — a tin
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. lie — to recline
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. fine — all right
  15. fine — high quality
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. can — a tin
  18. board — to get on
  19. bass — low music
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. bass — the instrument

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