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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: deal · land · bound · calf · lie · mug · snap · branch

  1. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bound — certain
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. bound — obliged
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. bound — tied together
  9. mug — a cup
  10. lie — to recline
  11. land — a country
  12. deal — to handle
  13. mug — a face
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. land — ground
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. branch — a division
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. land — to come down
  23. mug — to rob
  24. snap — to click

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