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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: lash · plane · mouse · key · file · branch · saw · wound

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. file — a document
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. key — for a lock
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. saw — the tool
  12. wound — an injury
  13. saw — the tool
  14. file — a tool
  15. wound — an injury
  16. file — a line of people
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. branch — a division
  19. key — in music
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. plane — a tool
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. key — the most important part
  24. branch — of a bank

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