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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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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: branch · foot · mark · board · lash · mug · cap · safe

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. cap — a lid
  3. mark — a trace
  4. board — a committee
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. foot — a measure
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. mug — a cup
  9. mark — a grade
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. cap — of ice
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. mug — to rob
  15. mug — a face
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. board — to get on
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. branch — a division
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. cap — a hat
  24. lash — to lash out

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