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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 120 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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. branch — a division
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. game — wild animals
  8. current — electric
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. current — happening now
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. current — of water
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. game — a match
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. coach — pulled by horses

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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