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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: pitcher · lie · sharp · suit · key · calf · branch · fine

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. suit — clothes
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. fine — high quality
  7. key — for a lock
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. sharp — clever
  10. key — in music
  11. suit — in cards
  12. fine — all right
  13. suit — to fit
  14. lie — to recline
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. key — the most important part
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. branch — a division
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. sharp — with an edge

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