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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. mug — a face
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. mug — to rob
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. branch — a division
  9. saw — the tool
  10. fine — high quality
  11. saw — the tool
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. can — a tin
  14. mug — a cup
  15. pit — a hole
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. pass — a permit
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. can — a tin
  23. pit — in a race
  24. fine — all right

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