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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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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: fan · ruler · bay · branch · row · kick · bear · cap

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. kick — a thrill
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. kick — with a leg
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. cap — a hat
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. kick — in football
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. cap — of ice
  16. row — to paddle
  17. bear — the animal
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. bear — the animal
  23. cap — a lid
  24. branch — a division

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