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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. kick — with a leg
  3. kick — in football
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. wind — moving air
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. rock — music
  8. bound — obliged
  9. mark — a grade
  10. net — for catching
  11. mark — a trace
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. bound — tied together
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. kick — a thrill
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. branch — a division
  18. wind — to turn a key
  19. bound — certain
  20. net — in sport
  21. net — after costs
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. wind — moving air
  24. mark — to pay attention

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