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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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Word bank
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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. can — to be able to
  4. branch — a division
  5. rash — hasty
  6. rash — a series
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. row — to paddle
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — a tin
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. plane — a tool
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. row — a line
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. temple — side of the head
  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