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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: pit · chip · deal · branch · stick · calf · suit · hand

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. pit — a hole
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. suit — to fit
  6. deal — to handle
  7. suit — clothes
  8. suit — in cards
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. pit — in a race
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. chip — to eat
  16. branch — a division
  17. hand — in cards
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. chip — for betting
  21. hand — help
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. deal — a big deal

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