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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. bound — tied together
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. bound — obliged
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. face — to point toward
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. firm — steady
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. firm — a company
  16. fine — all right
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. straw — dry grass
  20. fine — high quality
  21. face — part of the head
  22. bound — certain
  23. face — to confront
  24. firm — decided

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