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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. rush — hurry
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. wax — to grow
  7. mate — a friend
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. mate — to breed
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. fork — in a road
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. branch — a division
  22. mate — a partner
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. lash — to lash out

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