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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.

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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: chip · cue · spell · branch · sharp · pitcher · bowl · lash

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. spell — a short time
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. cue — a signal
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. spell — magic
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. sharp — clever
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. branch — a division
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. cue — for pool
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. chip — for betting
  19. cue — a hint
  20. spell — letters
  21. chip — to eat
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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