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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. board — to get on
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. board — a committee
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. last — final
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. branch — a division
  11. pit — a hole
  12. bound — certain
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. pit — in a race
  17. last — finally
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. bound — obliged
  21. last — to go on
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. bound — tied together

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