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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: mark · racket · tube · ruler · foot · current · leaves · branch

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. tube — a container
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. current — electric
  10. current — happening now
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. tube — the underground
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. mark — a grade
  16. branch — a division
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. foot — a measure
  22. current — of water
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. ruler — a monarch

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