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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 kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. bear — the animal
  4. net — after costs
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. branch — a division
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. scale — in music
  11. scale — size or range
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. rush — hurry
  21. net — for catching
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. bear — the animal
  24. net — in sport

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