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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 120 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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. stand — to bear
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. branch — a division
  6. rash — hasty
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. pit — a hole
  19. plane — a tool
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. rash — a series

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