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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: mug · charge · branch · rock · march · wax · stock · ruler

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. wax — to grow
  4. stock — shares
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. march — the month
  7. charge — electricity
  8. march — the month
  9. branch — a division
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. mug — to rob
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. mug — a cup
  14. stock — goods
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. charge — a price
  17. charge — in control
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. rock — a stone
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. rock — music
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. mug — a face
  24. march — music

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