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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. clip — to cut
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. current — of water
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. pop — music
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. current — electric
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. pop — soda
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. pop — to visit
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. branch — a division
  15. current — happening now
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. pass — a permit
  20. clip — for paper
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. clip — a video

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