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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 116 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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mouse · cap · branch · bass · calf · mate

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. mate — to breed
  3. cap — a lid
  4. bass — the fish
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. cap — a hat
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. cap — of ice
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. mate — a friend
  14. bass — low music
  15. mate — a partner
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. branch — a division

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