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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: branch · bass · cap · patient · last · bank · ruler · mark

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. last — final
  4. branch — a division
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. mark — a trace
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. cap — a lid
  9. bank — for money
  10. last — finally
  11. bass — the fish
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. cap — a hat
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. bank — for money
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. bass — low music
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. last — to go on
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. cap — of ice
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. bank — of a river

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