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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 120 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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. last — finally
  5. branch — a division
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. sharp — clever
  9. ball — a dance
  10. current — electric
  11. ball — a great time
  12. last — final
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. current — happening now
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. lean — to bend
  21. current — of water
  22. last — to go on
  23. lean — thin
  24. safe — a strongbox

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