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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: stand · branch · ball · jam · stock · tube · net · lie

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. branch — a division
  3. net — for catching
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. stock — shares
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. ball — a great time
  12. net — in sport
  13. tube — a container
  14. lie — to recline
  15. ball — a dance
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. stock — goods
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. net — after costs
  22. tube — the underground
  23. stand — to bear
  24. lie — an untruth

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