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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: track · kick · branch · lash · can · bore · coach · jam

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  17. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. track — a song
  3. kick — a thrill
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. can — a tin
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. branch — a division
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. track — a path
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. bore — to drill
  16. kick — in football
  17. kick — with a leg
  18. track — to keep track
  19. can — to be able to
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. can — a tin

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