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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. season — of the year
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. bank — of a river
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. scale — size or range
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. vault — a safe
  13. bank — for money
  14. bank — for money
  15. pass — a permit
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. saw — the tool
  19. branch — a division
  20. scale — in music
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. pass — to spend time

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