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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 120 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: mate · lash · charge · sharp · deal · craft · branch · racket

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. charge — in control
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. mate — a friend
  10. charge — electricity
  11. branch — a division
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. mate — a partner
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. mate — to breed
  16. craft — a skill
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. sharp — clever
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. craft — boats
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. deal — to handle
  24. racket — for tennis

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