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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: bank · safe · pass · pit · wake · shower · ground · trunk

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. pit — a hole
  6. bank — for money
  7. ground — a position
  8. shower — rain
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. shower — to wash
  13. bank — for money
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. pass — a permit
  16. bank — of a river
  17. ground — crushed
  18. wake — a trail
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. pit — in a race

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