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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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Word bank
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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: can · mate · lie · branch · jam · last · lash · wake

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. mate — a friend
  4. can — a tin
  5. last — to go on
  6. branch — a division
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. wake — a trail
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. can — to be able to
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. mate — a partner
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. mate — to breed
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. last — finally
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. can — a tin
  22. last — final
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. lie — to recline

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