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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: lean · branch · cell · mark · safe · suit · trunk · hand

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. He was locked up in a ________________.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. lean — to bend
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. branch — a division
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. hand — in cards
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. suit — clothes
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. cell — in biology
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. hand — help
  17. mark — a trace
  18. suit — in cards
  19. cell — in a prison
  20. lean — thin
  21. mark — a grade
  22. suit — to fit
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. cell — a phone

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