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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: ruler · mate · leaves · safe · branch · pitcher · chip · bound

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. branch — a division
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. chip — for betting
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. mate — a friend
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. bound — obliged
  19. bound — tied together
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. mate — a partner
  23. mate — to breed
  24. bound — certain

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