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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. field — a subject
  5. drill — army training
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. drill — the tool
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. branch — a division
  10. rock — a stone
  11. fine — high quality
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. drill — a practice
  14. bass — the fish
  15. bass — low music
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. fine — all right
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. field — for sport
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. field — farmland
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. ruler — a monarch

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