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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: lie · last · current · track · firm · can · branch · nail

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. last — finally
  3. firm — a company
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. can — a tin
  7. track — to keep track
  8. current — electric
  9. branch — a division
  10. last — final
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. track — a song
  13. current — happening now
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. can — to be able to
  17. can — a tin
  18. current — of water
  19. firm — decided
  20. lie — to recline
  21. track — a path
  22. firm — steady
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. last — to go on

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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