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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. saw — the tool
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. object — an aim
  7. sharp — clever
  8. object — to protest
  9. branch — a division
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. craft — a skill
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. object — a thing
  22. rush — hurry
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. craft — boats

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