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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: stand · rest · rush · lash · land · can · branch · rash

  1. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. can — to be able to
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. can — a tin
  5. rash — hasty
  6. rest — what's left
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. branch — a division
  12. can — a tin
  13. stand — to bear
  14. rest — a break
  15. rush — hurry
  16. land — to come down
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. rash — a series
  20. land — ground
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. rest — what's left

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