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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. key — the most important part
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. bass — the fish
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. key — for a lock
  10. mug — a face
  11. key — in music
  12. wound — an injury
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. mate — to breed
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. wound — an injury
  17. stock — shares
  18. mate — a partner
  19. mate — a friend
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. stock — goods
  22. bass — low music
  23. mug — a cup
  24. mug — to rob

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