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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 124 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 chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. plane — a tool
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. lean — to bend
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. drill — army training
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. present — the time now
  12. present — a gift
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. lean — thin
  15. present — there
  16. rush — hurry
  17. drill — the tool
  18. branch — a division
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. drill — a practice
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. fan — a supporter

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