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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. branch — a division
  5. mark — a trace
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. tube — a container
  8. object — to protest
  9. stock — goods
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. bank — of a river
  12. stock — shares
  13. bank — for money
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. mark — a grade
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. tube — the underground
  22. bank — for money
  23. object — an aim
  24. fan — a supporter

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