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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: suit · arm · trunk · lie · game · mark · racket · branch

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. mark — a grade
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. suit — to fit
  7. lie — to recline
  8. game — a match
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. suit — in cards
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. suit — clothes
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. mark — a trace
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. game — wild animals
  20. branch — a division
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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