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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 stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. field — for sport
  3. stock — goods
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. bark — to shout
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. chip — for betting
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. chip — to eat
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. field — farmland
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. stock — shares
  22. field — a subject
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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