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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: roll · branch · lie · wave · leaves · field · lash · chip

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. branch — a division
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. lie — to recline
  8. chip — for betting
  9. field — farmland
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. field — a subject
  15. chip — to eat
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. field — for sport
  20. roll — a cake
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. roll — a list
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. leaves — lets stay

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