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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: leaves · deal · branch · nail · pitcher · sharp · lash · pass

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. branch — a division
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. deal — to handle
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. pass — a permit
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. sharp — clever

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