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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: cap · perch · pitcher · charge · bay · ruler · branch · cue

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. cue — for pool
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. branch — a division
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. charge — a price
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. cap — a hat
  12. perch — the fish
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. cap — of ice
  16. cue — a signal
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. charge — electricity
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. cue — a hint
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. charge — in control
  24. ruler — a monarch

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