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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: ruler · plane · game · wake · capital · ball · bank · leaves

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bank — of a river
  3. capital — money
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. capital — a city
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. game — a match
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. game — wild animals
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. plane — a tool
  14. bank — for money
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. ball — a great time
  18. wake — a trail
  19. ball — a dance
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. bank — for money
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. capital — a big letter
  24. ball — a round shape

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