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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: game · rash · tube · safe · branch · face · current · ruler

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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. tube — the underground
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. current — of water
  6. current — happening now
  7. face — to point toward
  8. current — electric
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. face — part of the head
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. rash — a series
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. game — wild animals
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. face — to confront
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. tube — a container
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. game — a match
  24. rash — hasty

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