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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
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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: suit · branch · bowl · calf · lie · saw · perch · stem

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. suit — clothes
  6. saw — the tool
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. branch — a division
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. stem — to come from
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. suit — in cards
  22. perch — the fish
  23. saw — the tool
  24. suit — to fit

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