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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. mark — a grade
  9. staff — a stick
  10. staff — employees
  11. mark — a trace
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. staff — employees
  14. dip — to sink
  15. roll — a list
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. branch — a division
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. roll — a cake

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