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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 · jam · wound · stock · suit · chip · patient · trunk

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. suit — clothes
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. stock — shares
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. stock — goods
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. chip — for betting
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. wound — an injury
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. suit — in cards
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. wound — an injury
  22. chip — to eat
  23. suit — to fit
  24. patient — a sick person

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