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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: key · cabinet · leaves · last · branch · ruler · can · rest

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. can — a tin
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. rest — what's left
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. key — for a lock
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. rest — what's left
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. rest — a break
  15. key — in music
  16. can — a tin
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. branch — a division
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. last — finally
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. can — to be able to
  23. last — final
  24. last — to go on

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