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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. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. branch — a division
  3. bank — for money
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. bank — of a river
  14. season — in sport
  15. rash — hasty
  16. scale — in music
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. season — of the year
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. bank — for money
  23. rash — a series
  24. scale — size or range

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