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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 120 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: trunk · fine · branch · bat · suit · current · board · object

  1. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. bat — the animal
  4. object — an aim
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. suit — clothes
  7. suit — in cards
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. current — happening now
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. branch — a division
  14. object — to protest
  15. current — electric
  16. current — of water
  17. fine — high quality
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. suit — to fit
  20. fine — all right
  21. object — a thing
  22. bat — for baseball
  23. board — to get on
  24. board — a committee

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