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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: leaves · lash · rash · calf · branch · net · pit · swing

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. net — after costs
  3. rash — a series
  4. pit — in a race
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. rash — hasty
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. net — for catching
  10. pit — a hole
  11. swing — music
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. branch — a division
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. net — in sport
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. swing — to play on
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. swing — in golf
  24. lash — to lash out

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