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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. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  2. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. race — a contest
  2. race — the arms race
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. lean — thin
  6. lean — to bend
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. mark — a grade
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. mark — a trace
  17. race — humankind
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. branch — a division
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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