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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: charge · cold · season · lie · ruler · branch · rash · rule

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The water is too ________________.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  17. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  23. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. season — in sport
  3. lie — to recline
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. rule — government
  6. rash — hasty
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. branch — a division
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. cold — not warm
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. rash — a series
  15. charge — a price
  16. rule — a law
  17. rule — to rule out
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. season — of the year
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. charge — in control
  22. cold — the Cold War
  23. cold — an illness
  24. charge — electricity

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