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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
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: leaves · cap · ruler · branch · field · ball · foot · cue

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. cue — a signal
  3. cue — a hint
  4. field — a subject
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. cap — a hat
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. foot — a measure
  12. ball — a great time
  13. cap — of ice
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. cue — for pool
  16. ball — a dance
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. field — farmland
  19. field — for sport
  20. branch — a division
  21. cap — a lid
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. ruler — a monarch

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