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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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. bank — for money
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. bank — of a river
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. bank — for money
  8. bulb — for light
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. season — in sport
  12. plane — a tool
  13. bulb — for light
  14. branch — a division
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. season — of the year
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. ruler — a monarch

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