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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 120 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: last · saw · drill · nail · branch · stand · stick · cabinet

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. last — finally
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. drill — army training
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. drill — the tool
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. saw — the tool
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. drill — a practice
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. last — to go on
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. saw — the tool
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. last — final
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. stand — to bear

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