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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: lash · deal · stock · bank · rush · leaves · row · branch

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. stock — goods
  9. bank — of a river
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. deal — to handle
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. bank — for money
  14. stock — shares
  15. row — to paddle
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. bank — for money
  19. rush — hurry
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. row — a line
  23. branch — a division
  24. leaves — to go away

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