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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. rest — a break
  6. rest — what's left
  7. wake — a trail
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. bank — for money
  10. pit — in a race
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. suit — to fit
  15. rest — what's left
  16. dip — to sink
  17. suit — clothes
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. pit — a hole
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. bank — for money
  24. bank — of a river

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