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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: branch · foot · key · trunk · mouse · rest · chip · wave

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. rest — what's left
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. key — in music
  6. rest — a break
  7. chip — to eat
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. branch — a division
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. key — the most important part
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. key — for a lock
  19. foot — a measure
  20. chip — for betting
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. rest — what's left
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. wave — of the sea

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