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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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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: lie · calf · rock · nail · bay · branch · jam · spring

  1. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. spring — the season
  4. lie — to recline
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. rock — a stone
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. rock — music
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. spring — a coil
  20. spring — of water
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. branch — a division

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