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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: calf · bank · bay · branch · fan · rash · patient · hide

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. bank — for money
  12. rash — a series
  13. bank — for money
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. rash — hasty
  20. branch — a division
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. bank — of a river

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