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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: pop · leaves · ruler · temple · file · foot · branch · rock

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. rock — music
  3. rock — a stone
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. pop — to visit
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. file — a document
  10. foot — a measure
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. pop — soda
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. file — a tool
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. file — a line of people
  24. branch — a division

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