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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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. season — of the year
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. deal — to handle
  12. band — a ring
  13. wake — a trail
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. season — in sport
  23. branch — a division
  24. band — a music group

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