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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: mark · ruler · fan · stick · mouse · ball · branch · stock

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. stock — shares
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. mark — a grade
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. branch — a division
  11. ball — a dance
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. ball — a great time
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. stock — goods
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. mark — a trace
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. mouse — the animal

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