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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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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 · trunk · current · branch · ball · suit · object · dip

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. suit — in cards
  6. current — happening now
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. object — to protest
  10. current — electric
  11. suit — clothes
  12. object — a thing
  13. ball — a great time
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. ball — a dance
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. dip — to sink
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. object — an aim
  22. suit — to fit
  23. current — of water
  24. branch — a division

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