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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.

Make a worksheet

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: hide · bass · ruler · stem · branch · fan · leaves · chair

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. chair — a professorship
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. branch — a division
  17. chair — to sit on
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. chair — a leader
  22. bass — low music
  23. stem — to come from
  24. leaves — lets stay

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