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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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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: nail · rest · chip · ruler · jam · branch · stand · pass

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. pass — a permit
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. rest — what's left
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. chip — to eat
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. chip — for betting
  19. branch — a division
  20. stand — to bear
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. rest — a break
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. rest — what's left

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