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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: shower · face · branch · ruler · net · plane · can · bore

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. branch — a division
  4. shower — rain
  5. face — to point toward
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. bore — to drill
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. shower — to wash
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. net — for catching
  13. net — in sport
  14. can — to be able to
  15. face — part of the head
  16. can — a tin
  17. net — after costs
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. bore — to tire
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. plane — a tool
  23. can — a tin
  24. ruler — for measuring

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