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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 · lean · foot · file · jam · date · club · arm

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  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. date — on the calendar
  2. file — a line of people
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. file — a tool
  5. foot — a measure
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. file — a document
  11. club — a group
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. date — the fruit
  14. club — for golf
  15. branch — a division
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. lean — thin
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. lean — to bend
  23. club — for dancing
  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