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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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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 · mine · ruler · roll · fall · squash · mug · bound

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  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. fall — the season
  2. bound — tied together
  3. fall — to drop
  4. mug — to rob
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. mine — for digging
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. fall — to drop
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. bound — obliged
  12. mug — a cup
  13. bound — certain
  14. roll — a list
  15. squash — the sport
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. branch — a division
  18. roll — a cake
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. squash — to crush
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. mug — a face
  23. ruler — a monarch
  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