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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. scale — in music
  5. lean — thin
  6. lean — to bend
  7. scale — size or range
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. last — finally
  11. face — to point toward
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. last — to go on
  14. face — part of the head
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. face — to confront
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. last — final
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. branch — a division

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