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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: lash · branch · saw · can · cabinet · rock · season · file

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. saw — the tool
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. file — a document
  8. file — a tool
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. branch — a division
  12. can — a tin
  13. rock — a stone
  14. rock — music
  15. season — in sport
  16. season — of the year
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. can — a tin
  19. file — a line of people
  20. saw — the tool
  21. can — to be able to
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. rock — to move gently

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