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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: cap · branch · calf · court · rush · suit · bore · rock

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. suit — in cards
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. court — of a king
  8. bore — to drill
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. cap — a hat
  12. court — for sport
  13. branch — a division
  14. rock — a stone
  15. rush — hurry
  16. suit — to fit
  17. suit — clothes
  18. court — of law
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. rock — music
  21. cap — a lid
  22. bore — to tire
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. cap — of ice

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