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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 116 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: face · ruler · squash · pop · branch · bowl · stock · ball

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. ball — a dance
  3. stock — goods
  4. face — part of the head
  5. stock — shares
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. ball — a great time
  10. face — to confront
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. pop — to visit
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. pop — soda
  19. squash — to crush
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. face — to point toward
  22. pop — music
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. squash — the sport

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