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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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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: nail · bank · trunk · ground · track · stem · lean · temple

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. ground — the earth
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. track — a song
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. track — a path
  11. bank — for money
  12. bank — of a river
  13. lean — thin
  14. ground — crushed
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. lean — to bend
  17. track — to keep track
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. stem — to come from
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. ground — a position
  23. bank — for money
  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