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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: present · wake · temple · pitcher · fork · fine · lash · branch

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. present — there
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. wake — a trail
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. present — the time now
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. fine — high quality
  15. branch — a division
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. fine — all right
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. present — a gift
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. lash — an eyelash

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