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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 116 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: branch · season · ruler · stock · prune · object · lash · content

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. stock — shares
  7. prune — to trim
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. content — the amount
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. stock — goods
  13. prune — to trim
  14. object — a thing
  15. season — in sport
  16. season — of the year
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. object — to protest
  19. content — happy
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. object — an aim
  23. branch — a division
  24. lash — to lash out

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