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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: leaves · lean · lie · stand · branch · plane · ruler · cue

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. lie — to recline
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. plane — a tool
  8. stand — to bear
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. lean — to bend
  11. cue — for pool
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. branch — a division
  14. lean — thin
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. cue — a hint
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. lean — to rest against

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