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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: branch · trunk · stand · foot · bulb · bank · drill · coach

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. drill — the tool
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bank — for money
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. bank — for money
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. stand — to bear
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. drill — army training
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. bank — of a river
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. drill — a practice
  21. bulb — for light
  22. foot — a measure
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. branch — of a tree

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