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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 had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  24. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. suit — to fit
  4. suit — in cards
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. row — a line
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. stock — goods
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. suit — clothes
  18. pass — a permit
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. stock — shares
  21. branch — a division
  22. chest — of your body
  23. chest — a box
  24. chest — of your body

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