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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: fine · branch · scale · game · leaves · fan · rule · ruler

  1. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. branch — a division
  4. scale — in music
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. fine — all right
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. fine — high quality
  14. rule — government
  15. game — wild animals
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. game — a match
  18. scale — size or range
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. fan — a supporter

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