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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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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 · safe · bore · jam · branch · saw · object · straw

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  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 bank
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. object — a thing
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. object — an aim
  6. saw — the tool
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. branch — a division
  12. object — to protest
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. bore — to drill
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bore — to tire
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  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