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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: present · branch · chip · calf · suit · mine · stick · season

  1. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. suit — to fit
  3. season — in sport
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. present — there
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. present — the time now
  12. season — of the year
  13. chip — to eat
  14. present — a gift
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. suit — in cards
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. chip — for betting
  20. suit — clothes
  21. branch — a division
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. mine — for digging
  24. season — to add flavour

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