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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. track — a song
  3. branch — a division
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. board — to get on
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. rash — a series
  9. rash — hasty
  10. suit — clothes
  11. track — to keep track
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. board — a committee
  15. cue — for pool
  16. cue — a hint
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. suit — to fit
  20. track — a path
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. cue — a signal
  24. suit — in cards

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