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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 120 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: track · hide · current · chip · branch · root · calf · prune

  1. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. root — of a plant
  3. track — a song
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. chip — to eat
  6. root — of a word
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. chip — for betting
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. branch — a division
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. track — a path
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. current — happening now
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. root — the cause
  17. prune — to trim
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. current — of water
  21. track — to keep track
  22. current — electric
  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