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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 116 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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. branch — a division
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. bark — to shout
  7. stem — to come from
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. cue — a hint
  10. cue — for pool
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. cue — a signal
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. rush — hurry
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. perch — the fish
  24. bark — of a tree

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