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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: hide · dip · bound · wave · branch · mark · season · calf

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. mark — a grade
  6. bound — certain
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. season — in sport
  9. branch — a division
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. mark — a trace
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. dip — to sink
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bound — obliged
  24. season — of the year

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