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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: lash · squash · bank · branch · track · deal · mine · rush

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. branch — a division
  3. track — to keep track
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. track — a path
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. mine — for digging
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. deal — to handle
  14. squash — to crush
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. bank — for money
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bank — of a river
  20. track — a song
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. bank — for money
  24. squash — the sport

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