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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: march · suit · mark · stand · pit · branch · season · ruler

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. pit — in a race
  3. season — in sport
  4. march — the month
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. suit — to fit
  8. march — the month
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. suit — in cards
  12. pit — a hole
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. branch — a division
  15. season — of the year
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. suit — clothes
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. mark — a grade
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. march — music
  23. mark — a trace
  24. stand — to bear

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