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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 120 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: deal · calf · saw · board · branch · track · ball · cabinet

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. saw — the tool
  5. branch — a division
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. track — a path
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. deal — to handle
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. saw — the tool
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. board — a committee
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. track — a song
  21. ball — a dance
  22. board — to get on
  23. track — to keep track
  24. ball — a great time

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