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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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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: deal · firm · branch · stick · ruler · hide · trunk · rock

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. firm — a company
  4. firm — steady
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. deal — to handle
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. rock — music
  15. branch — a division
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. rock — a stone
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. hide — animal skin

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