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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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. bank — for money
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. net — in sport
  7. drill — the tool
  8. firm — decided
  9. drill — a practice
  10. drill — army training
  11. bank — of a river
  12. firm — steady
  13. net — after costs
  14. sharp — clever
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. bank — for money
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. net — for catching
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. firm — a company

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