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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: cabinet · rock · suit · branch · stand · lash · mark · staff

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. rock — music
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. mark — a trace
  8. stand — to bear
  9. branch — a division
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. suit — in cards
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. staff — employees
  15. staff — employees
  16. suit — clothes
  17. mark — a grade
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. suit — to fit
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. rock — a stone
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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