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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: suit · ruler · season · branch · drill · board · fall · key

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. drill — a practice
  3. drill — army training
  4. key — in music
  5. key — the most important part
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. branch — a division
  8. fall — to drop
  9. suit — clothes
  10. suit — in cards
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. key — for a lock
  13. fall — to drop
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. season — of the year
  17. board — a committee
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. suit — to fit
  20. board — to get on
  21. drill — the tool
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. season — in sport
  24. fall — the season

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