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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: firm · ruler · branch · rock · season · current · calf · date

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. firm — steady
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. rock — music
  7. current — electric
  8. firm — a company
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. current — of water
  11. season — of the year
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. rock — a stone
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. current — happening now
  19. season — in sport
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. date — the fruit
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. firm — decided

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