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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 116 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 · bank · cold · last · deal · charge · ruler · cabinet

  1. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  19. The water is too ________________.
  20. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. last — final
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. deal — to handle
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. last — to go on
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. last — finally
  8. charge — in control
  9. branch — a division
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. bank — for money
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. charge — electricity
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. bank — of a river
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. charge — a price
  18. cold — an illness
  19. cold — not warm
  20. cold — the Cold War
  21. bank — for money
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. deal — a big deal

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