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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: row · fine · rock · dip · branch · mouse · lash · mine

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. branch — a division
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. row — to paddle
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. row — a line
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. fine — high quality
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. fine — all right
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. rock — a stone
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. dip — to sink
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. mine — for digging
  23. rock — music
  24. mine — belonging to me

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