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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: track · branch · snap · staff · ruler · suit · season · wound

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. season — in sport
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. wound — an injury
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. snap — to click
  9. wound — an injury
  10. track — to keep track
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. suit — clothes
  13. branch — a division
  14. staff — employees
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. track — a song
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. season — of the year
  19. staff — a stick
  20. suit — to fit
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. suit — in cards
  24. track — a path

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