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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: bear · branch · calf · patient · cabinet · object · rest · saw

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. saw — the tool
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. rest — what's left
  9. bear — the animal
  10. object — an aim
  11. saw — the tool
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. bear — the animal
  15. rest — a break
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. rest — what's left
  21. object — to protest
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. branch — a division
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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