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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: branch · trunk · straw · nail · leaves · lean · foot · can

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. foot — a measure
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. can — a tin
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. can — to be able to
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. branch — a division
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. lean — to bend
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. can — a tin
  24. lean — thin

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