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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: key · bear · branch · bay · ruler · firm · hand · mine

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bear — the animal
  3. hand — help
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. firm — steady
  8. branch — a division
  9. mine — for digging
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. firm — decided
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. key — in music
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. bear — the animal
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. key — the most important part
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. hand — in cards
  22. firm — a company
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. key — for a lock

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