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

Word bank: branch · pitch · net · calf · bear · bay · safe · perch

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. net — for catching
  6. bear — the animal
  7. net — after costs
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. branch — a division
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. perch — the fish
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. net — in sport
  22. pitch — completely
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. pitch — a sports field

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