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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: bay · rest · bore · trunk · rash · plane · suit · mark

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. bore — to drill
  5. rest — what's left
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. suit — to fit
  11. plane — a tool
  12. mark — a trace
  13. rest — a break
  14. rest — what's left
  15. suit — clothes
  16. suit — in cards
  17. mark — a grade
  18. bore — to tire
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. rash — hasty
  21. rash — a series
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. rash — on the skin

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