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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.

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: branch · lash · drill · pass · bay · prune · rush · swing

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. prune — to trim
  3. swing — music
  4. pass — a permit
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. prune — to trim
  8. drill — army training
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. rush — hurry
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. drill — the tool
  18. swing — in golf
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. drill — a practice
  21. branch — a division
  22. swing — to play on
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. bay — a horse colour

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