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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: branch · mark · lash · calf · plane · deal · roll · patient

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. plane — a tool
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. deal — to handle
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. roll — a cake
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. mark — a grade
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. roll — a list
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. branch — a division
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. roll — on a roll

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