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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.

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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: branch · wax · rush · trunk · plane · bound · fan · mark

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. rush — hurry
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. bound — certain
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. wax — to grow
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. bound — tied together
  17. mark — a trace
  18. mark — a grade
  19. branch — a division
  20. bound — obliged
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. fan — a supporter

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