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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 president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. current — of water
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. branch — a division
  7. deal — to handle
  8. current — happening now
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. rock — music
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. current — electric
  13. net — in sport
  14. mug — a cup
  15. squash — the sport
  16. net — for catching
  17. mug — a face
  18. mug — to rob
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. net — after costs
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. rock — a stone

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