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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: stick · fork · object · branch · bound · lean · track · nail

  1. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — a garden tool
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. track — a path
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. bound — obliged
  9. bound — tied together
  10. lean — thin
  11. bound — certain
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. object — a thing
  14. lean — to bend
  15. branch — a division
  16. object — an aim
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. track — to keep track
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. track — a song
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. fork — in a road
  23. object — to protest
  24. branch — of a tree

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