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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.

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 · net · degree · branch · squash · toast · rock · safe

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  10. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. net — for catching
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. squash — to crush
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. rock — music
  9. degree — from a university
  10. degree — temperature
  11. net — in sport
  12. toast — bread
  13. net — after costs
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. degree — an amount
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. branch — a division
  22. squash — the sport
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. calf — a young animal

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