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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: can · mine · file · cap · shower · deal · calf · branch

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. can — to be able to
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. can — a tin
  8. file — a tool
  9. file — a line of people
  10. cap — of ice
  11. can — a tin
  12. deal — to handle
  13. branch — a division
  14. shower — rain
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. cap — a hat
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. shower — to wash
  22. cap — a lid
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. mine — for digging

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