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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 116 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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. field — a subject
  3. chip — to eat
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. bound — obliged
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. chip — for betting
  8. can — to be able to
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — a tin
  11. mark — a trace
  12. bank — for money
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. bank — of a river
  15. bound — certain
  16. field — for sport
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. bank — for money
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. mark — a grade
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. bound — tied together
  23. field — farmland
  24. pitcher — a jug

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