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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. mug — a face
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. track — to keep track
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. track — a path
  10. track — a song
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. branch — a division
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. mug — to rob
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. arm — a part of something

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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