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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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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: toast · branch · mug · racket · deal · lash · vault · lie

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. mug — a cup
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. toast — bread
  8. lie — to recline
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. vault — a safe
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. deal — to handle
  18. branch — a division
  19. mug — a face
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. mug — to rob
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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