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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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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: ruler · stick · branch · roll · patient · fine · deal · toast

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. roll — a cake
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. roll — a list
  10. branch — a division
  11. toast — bread
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. deal — to handle
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. fine — all right
  24. fine — high quality

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