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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: pitcher · chip · branch · row · pass · suit · calf · foot

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. chip — to eat
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. pass — a permit
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. suit — clothes
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. row — to paddle
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. row — a line
  17. suit — in cards
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. chip — for betting
  20. branch — a division
  21. suit — to fit
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. branch — of a bank

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