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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. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. branch — a division
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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