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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.

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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: calf · drill · fine · staff · rash · fall · branch · rock

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. rock — a stone
  3. staff — employees
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. fine — high quality
  7. branch — a division
  8. drill — a practice
  9. rash — a series
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. fall — to drop
  13. rash — hasty
  14. fall — the season
  15. staff — employees
  16. staff — a stick
  17. fine — all right
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. drill — the tool
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. fall — to drop
  22. rock — music
  23. drill — army training
  24. rock — to move gently

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