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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: saw · ruler · deal · pitch · leaves · key · branch · prune

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. prune — to trim
  3. saw — the tool
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. pitch — completely
  7. key — in music
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. deal — to handle
  12. prune — to trim
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. key — for a lock
  16. key — the most important part
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. branch — a division
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. saw — the tool
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  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