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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.

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: ruler · land · branch · lie · board · plane · leaves · stick

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. branch — a division
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. board — to get on
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. land — a country
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. land — ground
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. land — to come down
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. plane — a tool
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. lie — to recline
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. board — a committee

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