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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.

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: calf · lie · game · capital · branch · root · key · tube

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. key — for a lock
  3. capital — money
  4. branch — a division
  5. tube — a container
  6. root — of a plant
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. capital — a city
  10. key — the most important part
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. key — in music
  13. lie — to recline
  14. game — wild animals
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. tube — the underground
  17. root — of a word
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. game — a match
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. capital — a big letter
  22. root — the cause
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. game — a kind of play

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