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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: bay · branch · arm · ruler · stand · land · pit · bass

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. branch — a division
  3. pit — in a race
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. pit — a hole
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. stand — to bear
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. land — ground
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. land — a country
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. bass — the fish
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. bass — low music
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. land — to come down
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. bass — the instrument

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