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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: trunk · can · rush · hand · prune · pound · safe · fork

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. hand — help
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. hand — in cards
  10. prune — to trim
  11. rush — hurry
  12. pound — a weight
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. pound — for dogs
  15. prune — to trim
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. can — to be able to
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. fork — in a road

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