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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 · bay · temple · branch · calf · spell · pitcher · jam

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. spell — a short time
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. spell — magic
  11. spell — letters
  12. branch — a division
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. can — to be able to
  16. can — a tin
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. can — a tin
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. temple — a place of worship

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