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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 124 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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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: ruler · saw · racket · snap · kid · coach · branch · deal

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. branch — a division
  3. deal — to handle
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. kid — to tease
  6. snap — to click
  7. saw — the tool
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. saw — the tool
  19. kid — child
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. branch — of a tree

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