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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. branch — a division
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. bound — obliged
  8. prune — to trim
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. bound — tied together
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. fine — high quality
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. rush — hurry
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. stand — to bear
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. bound — certain
  21. prune — to trim
  22. fine — all right
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. rush — a thrill

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