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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: leaves · land · branch · calf · arm · deal · stand · stick

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. When are we going to ________________?
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. land — to come down
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. deal — to handle
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. land — a country
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. land — ground
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. stand — to bear
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. branch — a division

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