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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. kick — in football
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. branch — a division
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. kick — with a leg
  9. charge — in control
  10. charge — a price
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. charge — electricity
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. saw — the tool
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. dip — to sink
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. temple — side of the head

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