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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. lie — to recline
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. toast — bread
  10. plane — a tool
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. shower — to wash
  13. bass — the fish
  14. drill — the tool
  15. branch — a division
  16. shower — rain
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. drill — a practice
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. drill — army training
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. bass — low music
  24. plane — in geometry

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