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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
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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: jam · key · branch · content · wake · foot · stand · trunk

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. key — in music
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. content — happy
  9. content — the amount
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. branch — a division
  12. key — for a lock
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. stand — to bear
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. wake — a trail
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. key — the most important part
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. foot — a measure
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. jam — a tight spot

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