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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 120 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
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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 · board · spell · staff · ball · object · track · branch

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. ball — a great time
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. board — a committee
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. track — to keep track
  7. branch — a division
  8. board — to get on
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. track — a path
  12. staff — employees
  13. ball — a dance
  14. spell — magic
  15. object — a thing
  16. object — an aim
  17. staff — employees
  18. object — to protest
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. spell — letters
  23. spell — a short time
  24. track — a song

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