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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. suit — in cards
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. foot — a measure
  6. bulb — for light
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. branch — a division
  9. bulb — for light
  10. suit — clothes
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. fall — to drop
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. stock — goods
  17. suit — to fit
  18. rash — hasty
  19. fall — to drop
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. rash — a series
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. stock — shares
  24. fall — the season

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