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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 120 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: mark · charge · branch · cap · bark · tube · craft · ruler

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. tube — a container
  4. mark — a trace
  5. charge — in control
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mark — a grade
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. craft — a skill
  10. craft — boats
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. bark — to shout
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. cap — a hat
  15. cap — of ice
  16. charge — a price
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. charge — electricity
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. branch — a division
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. tube — the underground
  23. cap — a lid
  24. ruler — for measuring

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