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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: bass · date · trunk · perch · rash · bank · jam · pit

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. rash — a series
  3. bass — low music
  4. date — the fruit
  5. pit — a hole
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. perch — the fish
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. bank — for money
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. rash — hasty
  20. bass — the fish
  21. pit — in a race
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. bank — for money
  24. bank — of a river

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