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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. saw — the tool
  4. saw — the tool
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. season — in sport
  7. present — a gift
  8. season — of the year
  9. bound — certain
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. bound — tied together
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. present — there
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. bound — obliged
  19. present — the time now
  20. branch — a division
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. firm — decided
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. firm — steady

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