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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. key — in music
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. cap — a lid
  9. key — the most important part
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. cap — a hat
  14. can — to be able to
  15. cap — of ice
  16. can — a tin
  17. lean — to bend
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. branch — a division
  21. lean — thin
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. can — a tin

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