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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: fine · bear · stand · vault · branch · wave · lash · jam

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. stand — to bear
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. bear — the animal
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. bear — the animal
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. fine — all right
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. vault — a safe
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. fine — high quality
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. branch — a division
  24. stand — for spectators

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