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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: mouse · bulb · branch · land · march · ruler · bay · suit

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. suit — to fit
  4. suit — in cards
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. land — ground
  7. land — to come down
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. branch — a division
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. bulb — for light
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. land — a country
  19. march — music
  20. march — the month
  21. march — the month
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. suit — clothes
  24. ruler — for measuring

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