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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: suit · current · fan · calf · branch · spell · dip · row

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. row — a line
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. suit — clothes
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. spell — letters
  10. branch — a division
  11. row — to paddle
  12. current — electric
  13. suit — in cards
  14. spell — a short time
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. current — of water
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. current — happening now
  22. suit — to fit
  23. spell — magic
  24. dip — a sauce

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