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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: bank · deal · plane · file · leaves · trunk · chest · branch

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. branch — a division
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. file — a document
  8. chest — a box
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. file — a tool
  11. deal — to handle
  12. chest — of your body
  13. plane — a tool
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. file — a line of people
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. bank — for money
  20. chest — of your body
  21. bank — for money
  22. bank — of a river
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. leaves — lets stay

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