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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 116 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: fan · mug · pass · wake · hide · rash · squash · branch

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. branch — a division
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. rash — hasty
  6. rash — a series
  7. squash — the sport
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. mug — a face
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. mug — to rob
  19. wake — a trail
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. pass — a permit
  23. squash — to crush
  24. hide — to keep secret

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