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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 116 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: branch · ruler · stock · rule · object · swing · pit · cabinet

  1. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. pit — in a race
  4. branch — a division
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. stock — goods
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. object — an aim
  12. pit — a hole
  13. object — a thing
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. stock — shares
  16. object — to protest
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. rule — a law
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. swing — to play on
  22. rule — government
  23. swing — in golf
  24. swing — music

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