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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. tube — a container
  5. rash — a series
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. branch — a division
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. staff — employees
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. staff — a stick
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. rash — hasty
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. tube — the underground
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. staff — employees
  24. rush — hurry

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