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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: rock · calf · plane · file · row · jam · leaves · branch

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. branch — a division
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. file — a tool
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. rock — a stone
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. file — a line of people
  13. file — a document
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. rock — music
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. row — to paddle
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. row — a line
  24. branch — of a tree

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