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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.

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: saw · stand · straw · temple · fine · jam · branch · drill

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. saw — the tool
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. stand — to bear
  7. drill — the tool
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. fine — all right
  10. drill — a practice
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. fine — high quality
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. straw — dry grass
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. drill — army training
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. branch — a division
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. saw — the tool
  24. straw — to clutch at straws

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