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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
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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: saw · trunk · rock · lie · ruler · cabinet · safe · branch

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. saw — the tool
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. branch — a division
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. rock — music
  19. saw — the tool
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. lie — to recline
  22. rock — a stone
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. ruler — for measuring

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