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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 116 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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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: plane · rule · lie · lean · stock · chip · pitch · branch

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  8. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. stock — goods
  4. plane — a tool
  5. lie — to recline
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. rule — government
  8. rule — a law
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. chip — to eat
  11. stock — shares
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. chip — for betting
  15. lean — thin
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. pitch — completely
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. lean — to bend
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. rule — to rule out

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