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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: branch · deal · nail · fine · net · land · fork · lash

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. land — ground
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. net — for catching
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. fork — in a road
  7. net — after costs
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. land — a country
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. fine — high quality
  15. branch — a division
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. land — to come down
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. fine — all right
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. deal — to handle
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. lash — an eyelash

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