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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: hide · current · pitch · fork · prune · calf · branch · safe

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. pitch — completely
  7. prune — to trim
  8. current — electric
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. current — happening now
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. branch — a division
  21. prune — to trim
  22. current — of water
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. fork — in a road

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