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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. content — the amount
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. ball — a dance
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. bark — to shout
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. ball — a great time
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. content — happy
  23. content — videos and posts
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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