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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: ruler · fine · bound · sharp · coach · racket · leaves · branch

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. bound — certain
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. branch — a division
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. bound — tied together
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. sharp — clever
  13. bound — obliged
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. fine — all right
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. racket — for tennis

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