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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 116 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: bear · vault · calf · mark · rock · can · stick · branch

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. rock — music
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. rock — a stone
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. branch — a division
  9. bear — the animal
  10. mark — a trace
  11. mark — a grade
  12. bear — the animal
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. vault — a safe
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. can — a tin
  24. rock — to move gently

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