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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: date · calf · lie · pitcher · object · branch · cabinet · stock

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  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. date — the fruit
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. object — a thing
  12. stock — shares
  13. branch — a division
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. lie — to recline
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. object — an aim
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. object — to protest
  21. stock — goods
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  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