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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. We took cover from the thunder ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. plane — a tool
  7. stock — goods
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. shower — to wash
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. branch — a division
  21. stock — shares
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. shower — rain

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