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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 · net · lash · cabinet · racket · plane · fall · pass

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. fall — to drop
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. fall — to drop
  6. net — after costs
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. plane — a tool
  11. branch — a division
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. fall — the season
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. pass — a permit
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. net — in sport
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. net — for catching

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