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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · face · staff · fine · arm · pass · trunk · temple

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. pass — a permit
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. face — part of the head
  6. staff — employees
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. staff — a stick
  10. face — to confront
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. fine — high quality
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. branch — a division
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. face — to point toward
  19. staff — employees
  20. fine — all right
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. arm — part of the body

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