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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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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: drill · roll · pit · jam · nail · bank · branch · leaves

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. drill — army training
  4. drill — a practice
  5. roll — a list
  6. bank — for money
  7. bank — for money
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. roll — a cake
  11. branch — a division
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. pit — a hole
  22. drill — the tool
  23. bank — of a river
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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