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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 · can · nail · arm · staff · file · ball · bound

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. staff — a stick
  3. bound — tied together
  4. can — a tin
  5. file — a line of people
  6. file — a tool
  7. can — a tin
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. ball — a dance
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. file — a document
  12. staff — employees
  13. bound — obliged
  14. can — to be able to
  15. branch — a division
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. ball — a great time
  21. bound — certain
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. staff — employees
  24. nail — on a finger

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