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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: bound · lie · branch · leaves · stock · prune · plane · wound

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. plane — a tool
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. wound — an injury
  6. stock — shares
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. bound — certain
  9. wound — an injury
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. bound — tied together
  13. branch — a division
  14. bound — obliged
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. stock — goods
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. prune — to trim
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. lie — to recline
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. prune — to trim

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