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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: calf · net · branch · bass · rock · root · squash · temple

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. bass — low music
  3. rock — music
  4. squash — to crush
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. branch — a division
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. root — of a word
  11. rock — a stone
  12. net — in sport
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. root — the cause
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. bass — the fish
  18. squash — the sport
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. net — for catching
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. root — of a plant

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