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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: branch · squash · plane · chip · mark · bound · nail · trunk

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. branch — a division
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. bound — tied together
  7. chip — to eat
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. squash — the sport
  11. bound — obliged
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. bound — certain
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. mark — a trace
  20. chip — for betting
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. mark — a grade
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. squash — to crush

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