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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: face · foot · rash · branch · bound · stem · calf · leaves

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. bound — obliged
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. face — to confront
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. rash — hasty
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. stem — to come from
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. bound — certain
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. bound — tied together
  21. branch — a division
  22. face — to point toward
  23. face — part of the head
  24. foot — a measure

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