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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 120 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
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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 · perch · pass · key · spring · branch · bass · rock

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. bass — the fish
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. bass — low music
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. key — for a lock
  10. key — in music
  11. spring — of water
  12. pass — a permit
  13. rock — music
  14. spring — a coil
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. rock — a stone
  18. perch — the fish
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. key — the most important part
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. spring — the season
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. rock — to move gently

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