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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: can · racket · mark · rush · bass · ruler · branch · rash

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bass — the fish
  5. can — a tin
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. mark — a grade
  9. bass — low music
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. can — to be able to
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. can — a tin
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. mark — a trace
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. rash — hasty
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. rash — a series
  24. rush — hurry

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