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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 · object · roll · lash · safe · mug · mouse · field

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. field — a subject
  4. object — an aim
  5. field — farmland
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. mug — to rob
  9. mug — a face
  10. mug — a cup
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. roll — a cake
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. roll — a list
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. field — for sport
  21. object — to protest
  22. branch — a division
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. lash — to lash out

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