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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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. charge — in control
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. kid — to tease
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. lie — to recline
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. charge — a price
  10. file — a tool
  11. lean — thin
  12. lean — to bend
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. file — a line of people
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. branch — a division
  21. kid — child
  22. charge — electricity
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. branch — of a bank

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