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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
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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: suit · pit · lash · rock · saw · branch · mouse · trunk

  1. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. rock — music
  4. suit — clothes
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. saw — the tool
  7. suit — to fit
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. branch — a division
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. saw — the tool
  17. pit — in a race
  18. suit — in cards
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. rock — a stone
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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