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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
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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 · trunk · perch · lean · bound · squash · chair · toast

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. bound — obliged
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. chair — to sit on
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. bound — tied together
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. squash — the sport
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. bound — certain
  13. squash — to crush
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. lean — to bend
  17. branch — a division
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. toast — bread
  21. lean — thin
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. perch — the fish
  24. chair — a leader

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