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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: suit · cap · sharp · calf · rash · bowl · branch · jam

  1. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. branch — a division
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. rash — a series
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. rash — hasty
  10. suit — clothes
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. cap — a lid
  13. cap — a hat
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. sharp — clever
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. suit — in cards
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. suit — to fit
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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