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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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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: staff · mug · sharp · spell · branch · rush · fork · calf

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. sharp — clever
  4. staff — employees
  5. spell — letters
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. staff — employees
  8. spell — magic
  9. mug — to rob
  10. mug — a cup
  11. spell — a short time
  12. staff — a stick
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. branch — a division
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. mug — a face
  22. rush — hurry
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. rush — a thrill

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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