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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 120 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: mate · game · lash · stick · mark · branch · lie · ball

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. lie — to recline
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. mate — to breed
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. game — wild animals
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. mate — a partner
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. branch — a division
  19. mate — a friend
  20. mark — a trace
  21. ball — a dance
  22. game — a match
  23. mark — a grade
  24. ball — a great time

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