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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: mouse · branch · sharp · lash · root · prune · ball · mate

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. prune — to trim
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. ball — a dance
  13. sharp — clever
  14. mate — a friend
  15. prune — to trim
  16. root — the cause
  17. mate — a partner
  18. branch — a division
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. root — of a word
  21. ball — a great time
  22. root — of a plant
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. branch — of a tree

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