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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. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. suit — in cards
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. firm — steady
  6. pass — a permit
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. suit — to fit
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. suit — clothes
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. track — a path
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. firm — a company
  15. track — to keep track
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. track — a song
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. firm — decided
  22. branch — a division
  23. pop — to visit
  24. pop — music

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