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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 120 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 · bank · saw · suit · patient · racket · mate

  1. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. suit — to fit
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. saw — the tool
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. branch — a division
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. bank — for money
  10. mate — a partner
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. saw — the tool
  15. bank — for money
  16. suit — in cards
  17. bank — of a river
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. mate — to breed
  20. suit — clothes
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. mate — a friend
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. racket — a loud noise

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