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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: fine · stand · can · nail · lean · bore · trunk · branch

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. can — a tin
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. lean — thin
  5. can — a tin
  6. fine — high quality
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. bore — to drill
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. fine — all right
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. stand — to bear
  14. lean — to bend
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. bore — to tire
  17. branch — a division
  18. can — to be able to
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. nail — for a hammer

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