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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: branch · lash · saw · cell · game · can · rock · tube

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. He was locked up in a ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. can — to be able to
  4. game — wild animals
  5. game — a match
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. tube — a container
  9. cell — in a prison
  10. tube — the underground
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. saw — the tool
  16. cell — in biology
  17. branch — a division
  18. rock — music
  19. can — a tin
  20. saw — the tool
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. cell — a phone
  23. can — a tin
  24. game — a kind of play

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