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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 owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. bank — for money
  4. key — in music
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. perch — the fish
  8. sharp — clever
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. key — for a lock
  11. bank — for money
  12. ball — a dance
  13. key — the most important part
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. rock — music
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. ball — a great time
  19. rock — a stone
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. bank — of a river
  24. rush — hurry

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