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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. can — to be able to
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. can — a tin
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. can — a tin
  10. stock — goods
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. stock — shares
  16. board — to get on
  17. clip — for paper
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. sharp — clever
  20. branch — a division
  21. clip — to cut
  22. board — a committee
  23. clip — a video
  24. branch — of a tree

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