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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: wake · calf · charge · rash · bear · object · net · trunk

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. net — after costs
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. object — a thing
  6. wake — a trail
  7. object — to protest
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. bear — the animal
  11. charge — a price
  12. net — in sport
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. charge — electricity
  15. net — for catching
  16. charge — in control
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. bear — the animal
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. rash — hasty
  24. object — an aim

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