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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: tube · trunk · lean · branch · vault · band · stand · toast

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. band — a ring
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. stand — to bear
  6. tube — the underground
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. band — a music group
  9. lean — thin
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. tube — a container
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. branch — a division
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. lean — to bend
  22. toast — bread
  23. vault — a safe
  24. trunk — of a tree

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