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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: mark · lean · press · calf · can · vault · tube · branch

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. tube — the underground
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. mark — a trace
  9. lean — thin
  10. press — a publisher
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. tube — a container
  15. press — to push
  16. can — to be able to
  17. can — a tin
  18. press — newspapers
  19. mark — a grade
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. branch — a division
  22. vault — a safe
  23. can — a tin
  24. lean — to bend

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