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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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. stock — goods
  8. track — a song
  9. swing — music
  10. swing — to play on
  11. swing — in golf
  12. track — a path
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. track — to keep track
  15. bank — of a river
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. stock — shares
  18. bank — for money
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. branch — a division
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. stand — to bear
  24. stand — on your feet

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