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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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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: jam · stock · ruler · prune · branch · bore · track · lie

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. bore — to drill
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. branch — a division
  5. stock — goods
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. track — to keep track
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. prune — to trim
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. bore — to tire
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. lie — to recline
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. prune — to trim
  21. track — a song
  22. stock — shares
  23. track — a path
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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