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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.

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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: stand · branch · spell · rush · bound · snap · present · ruler

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. bound — certain
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. stand — to bear
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. bound — tied together
  7. present — a gift
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. branch — a division
  10. present — there
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. spell — a short time
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. rush — hurry
  17. present — the time now
  18. snap — to click
  19. spell — magic
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. spell — letters
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. bound — obliged

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