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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 116 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. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. row — to paddle
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. row — a line
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. rash — hasty
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. can — to be able to
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. saw — the tool
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. lie — to recline
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. rash — a series
  24. rash — on the skin

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