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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. rock — a stone
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. scale — in music
  7. wound — an injury
  8. scale — size or range
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. lean — thin
  14. rock — music
  15. lean — to bend
  16. wound — an injury
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. sharp — clever
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. branch — a division
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. stand — to bear
  24. stand — for spectators

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