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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 116 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. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. net — in sport
  4. branch — a division
  5. net — for catching
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. net — after costs
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. staff — employees
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — for light
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. rush — hurry
  17. lie — to recline
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. staff — employees
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. pitcher — a jug

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