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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: trunk · rush · stick · can · pit · bore · dip · temple

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. rush — hurry
  3. can — a tin
  4. pit — in a race
  5. bore — to drill
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. pit — a hole
  11. can — a tin
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. can — to be able to
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. dip — to sink
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. bore — gave birth

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