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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 116 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: branch · pass · squash · pit · firm · calf · current · deal

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. firm — a company
  3. squash — to crush
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. pit — a hole
  8. firm — decided
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. pit — in a race
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. branch — a division
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. current — happening now
  17. current — electric
  18. deal — to handle
  19. squash — the sport
  20. firm — steady
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. current — of water
  24. calf — of the leg

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