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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. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. branch — a division
  3. stem — to come from
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. deal — to handle
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. bore — to tire
  21. lie — to recline
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. bore — to drill
  24. sharp — clever

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