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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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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 · wind · patient · calf · wound · toast · bank

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. bank — for money
  7. bank — of a river
  8. branch — a division
  9. wind — moving air
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. wound — an injury
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. bank — for money
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. wind — moving air
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. toast — bread
  24. wound — an injury

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