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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 · lash · land · charge · branch · suit · can · rash

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. charge — a price
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. suit — clothes
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. charge — electricity
  8. suit — in cards
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. land — a country
  12. branch — a division
  13. rash — a series
  14. rash — hasty
  15. can — a tin
  16. land — ground
  17. suit — to fit
  18. charge — in control
  19. can — a tin
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. can — to be able to
  24. land — to come down

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