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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 rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. file — a line of people
  4. row — to paddle
  5. branch — a division
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. pass — a permit
  11. rush — hurry
  12. plane — a tool
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. row — a line
  23. file — a document
  24. ruler — for measuring

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