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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: spell · lash · club · net · trunk · pit · track · mine

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. track — a song
  4. net — for catching
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. spell — magic
  7. club — a group
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. pit — in a race
  11. track — a path
  12. mine — for digging
  13. spell — letters
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. net — in sport
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. track — to keep track
  18. net — after costs
  19. spell — a short time
  20. club — for golf
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. pit — a hole
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. club — for dancing

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