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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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. bear — the animal
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. row — a line
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. bulb — for light
  8. rush — hurry
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. branch — a division
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. bear — the animal
  13. row — to paddle
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. plane — a tool
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. ruler — for measuring

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