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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. The water is too ________________.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. cold — the Cold War
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. stock — goods
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. cold — not warm
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. cold — an illness
  11. staff — employees
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. staff — a stick
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. stock — shares
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. staff — employees
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. bark — to shout
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. trunk — of a car

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