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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.

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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: cabinet · season · bulb · tear · ruler · rush · branch · pass

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. bulb — for light
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. branch — a division
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. bulb — for light
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. tear — from crying
  11. rush — hurry
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. tear — to rip
  16. season — in sport
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. tear — from crying
  19. season — of the year
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. pass — a permit
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. cabinet — ministers

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