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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.

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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. tube — the underground
  9. tube — a container
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. branch — a division
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. mate — a friend
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mate — to breed
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. deal — to handle
  20. mate — a partner
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. mark — a trace
  24. deal — an agreement

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