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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 120 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. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. game — wild animals
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. swing — to play on
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. game — a match
  15. swing — music
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. plane — a tool
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. swing — in golf

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