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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: snap · pit · branch · drill · can · mug · ruler · last

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. drill — army training
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. drill — the tool
  6. last — finally
  7. snap — to click
  8. pit — in a race
  9. mug — to rob
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. can — a tin
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. drill — a practice
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. last — final
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. mug — a face
  20. pit — a hole
  21. can — a tin
  22. last — to go on
  23. mug — a cup
  24. branch — a division

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