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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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. degree — temperature
  4. season — of the year
  5. season — in sport
  6. spell — a short time
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. degree — an amount
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. degree — from a university
  14. last — final
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. last — to go on
  17. spell — magic
  18. plane — a tool
  19. last — finally
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. spell — letters
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. plane — in geometry

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