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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 felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. Hold the papers together with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. net — for catching
  3. deal — to handle
  4. branch — a division
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. key — in music
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. key — for a lock
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. key — the most important part
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. net — in sport
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. clip — to cut
  17. net — after costs
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. clip — a video
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. clip — for paper

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