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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
468
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 · toast · spring · trunk · land · stand · vault · key

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. land — ground
  4. stand — to bear
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. key — the most important part
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. spring — a coil
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. key — for a lock
  13. vault — a safe
  14. key — in music
  15. branch — a division
  16. spring — of water
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. toast — bread
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. land — to come down
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. land — a country
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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