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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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. current — of water
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. current — happening now
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. scale — in music
  17. branch — a division
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. scale — size or range
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. current — electric
  24. wave — of the sea

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