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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.

Make a worksheet

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: stock · branch · wake · mouse · temple · dip · bowl · lash

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. dip — to sink
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. wake — a trail
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. stock — goods
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. branch — a division
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. stock — shares
  24. mouse — the animal

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