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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. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. object — an aim
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. stock — goods
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. charge — electricity
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. object — to protest
  14. charge — in control
  15. wound — an injury
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. stock — shares
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. branch — a division
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. object — a thing
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. charge — a price

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