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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 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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. can — a tin
  4. content — happy
  5. bark — to shout
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. current — happening now
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. swing — music
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. content — the amount
  16. swing — to play on
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. can — to be able to
  19. current — of water
  20. current — electric
  21. swing — in golf
  22. can — a tin
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. plane — a tool

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