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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 · mouse · fine · court · net · trunk · suit · object

  1. The ball is in your ________________.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. court — for sport
  2. object — a thing
  3. court — of a king
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. object — an aim
  7. fine — high quality
  8. suit — clothes
  9. suit — in cards
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. suit — to fit
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. court — of law
  16. net — for catching
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. branch — a division
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. net — after costs
  22. object — to protest
  23. fine — all right
  24. net — in sport

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