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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: current · degree · calf · cabinet · safe · board · branch · game

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. degree — temperature
  6. current — happening now
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. board — to get on
  11. current — electric
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. branch — a division
  14. degree — from a university
  15. current — of water
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. game — a match
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. game — wild animals
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. board — a committee
  24. degree — an amount

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