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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. branch — a division
  4. squash — the sport
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. squash — to crush
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. mug — a cup
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. mug — a face
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. current — of water
  16. perch — the fish
  17. stand — to bear
  18. mug — to rob
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. current — electric
  24. calf — a young animal

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