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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. False peace will not ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. last — to go on
  3. bound — certain
  4. drill — the tool
  5. lean — to bend
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. drill — a practice
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. last — finally
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. mug — a face
  13. drill — army training
  14. lean — thin
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. plane — a tool
  17. mug — a cup
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. mug — to rob
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bound — tied together
  23. last — final
  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