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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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
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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: trunk · branch · patient · lie · pit · fan

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. pit — a hole
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. branch — a division
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. pit — in a race
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. lie — to recline
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. patient — calm and waiting

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