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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. deal — to handle
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. kick — in football
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. court — of law
  11. court — of a king
  12. kick — with a leg
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. fall — to drop
  16. court — for sport
  17. branch — a division
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. fall — the season
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. fall — to drop
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. leaves — lets stay

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