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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: ruler · branch · current · ground · band · field · foot · fine

  1. There's no middle ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. current — happening now
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. current — of water
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. current — electric
  8. field — for sport
  9. ground — the earth
  10. field — farmland
  11. foot — a measure
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. fine — high quality
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. branch — a division
  19. band — a music group
  20. band — a ring
  21. field — a subject
  22. ground — crushed
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. fine — all right

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