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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. file — a line of people
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. mark — a grade
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. cap — of ice
  10. file — a document
  11. net — in sport
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. cap — a lid
  14. net — after costs
  15. mark — a trace
  16. cap — a hat
  17. file — a tool
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. branch — a division
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. net — for catching

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