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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.

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: rush · chip · branch · land · object · rock · drill · plane

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. land — ground
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. chip — to eat
  5. drill — army training
  6. rock — music
  7. land — to come down
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. object — to protest
  10. plane — a tool
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. object — an aim
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. drill — a practice
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. branch — a division
  18. land — a country
  19. object — a thing
  20. drill — the tool
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. chip — for betting
  24. rush — hurry

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