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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: nail · lash · branch · key · suit · ball · dip · temple

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. ball — a great time
  3. suit — clothes
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. key — in music
  6. key — the most important part
  7. dip — to sink
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. ball — a dance
  15. suit — in cards
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. suit — to fit
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. key — for a lock
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. nail — for a hammer

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