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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: pitch · tube · firm · lash · branch · suit · pitcher · wax

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. suit — clothes
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. tube — the underground
  6. suit — to fit
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. wax — to grow
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. firm — steady
  14. firm — decided
  15. branch — a division
  16. suit — in cards
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. pitch — completely
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. tube — a container
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. firm — a company

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