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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. bank — for money
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. branch — a division
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. bank — of a river
  17. tube — a container
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. sharp — clever
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. fine — all right
  22. tube — the underground
  23. bank — for money
  24. tube — in a tire

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