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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 120 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: wax · pass · bound · mark · ruler · mate · branch · perch

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. mark — a trace
  3. bound — certain
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. branch — a division
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. mark — a grade
  11. perch — the fish
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. mate — to breed
  18. bound — tied together
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. pass — a permit
  21. mate — a friend
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. mate — a partner
  24. wax — to grow

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