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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. drill — army training
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. shower — rain
  5. bank — for money
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. suit — in cards
  9. shower — to wash
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. suit — clothes
  12. drill — the tool
  13. suit — to fit
  14. drill — a practice
  15. lie — to recline
  16. bank — of a river
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. sharp — clever
  21. bank — for money
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. lie — an untruth

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