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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: safe · hide · rock · calf · branch · fork · cue · face

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. face — part of the head
  5. rock — music
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. rock — a stone
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. branch — a division
  11. face — to confront
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. fork — in a road
  14. cue — a signal
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. face — to point toward
  18. cue — for pool
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. cue — a hint
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. calf — a young animal

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