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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 116 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: track · shower · branch · pitcher · suit · mug · board · lash

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. board — to get on
  3. suit — clothes
  4. track — a song
  5. mug — to rob
  6. shower — to wash
  7. board — a committee
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. mug — a cup
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. shower — rain
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. suit — to fit
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. branch — a division
  19. track — a path
  20. suit — in cards
  21. mug — a face
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. track — to keep track

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