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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: safe · snap · drill · staff · fork · bark · saw · trunk

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. staff — a stick
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. drill — army training
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. drill — the tool
  9. staff — employees
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. saw — the tool
  14. bark — to shout
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. snap — to click
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. fork — in a road
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. staff — employees
  23. bark — of a tree
  24. saw — the tool

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