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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 elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. When are we going to ________________?
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. bank — for money
  3. land — ground
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. land — to come down
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. bank — for money
  14. season — of the year
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. season — in sport
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bank — of a river
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. land — a country
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. rush — to 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