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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
468
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: arm · snap · branch · current · mate · trunk · key · wax

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. key — for a lock
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. current — electric
  6. key — in music
  7. current — of water
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. mate — a partner
  14. wax — to grow
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. branch — a division
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. mate — to breed
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. mate — a friend
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. key — the most important part
  24. snap — to click

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