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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: branch · ruler · mate · bore · wound · leaves · cabinet · fork

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. mate — a friend
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. bore — to drill
  12. wound — an injury
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. mate — to breed
  15. bore — to tire
  16. fork — to eat with
  17. branch — a division
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. fork — in a road
  23. wound — an injury
  24. mate — a partner

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