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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 120 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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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: can · rest · track · mug · sharp · deal · trunk · bank

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — to be able to
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. mug — to rob
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. track — a song
  9. track — a path
  10. sharp — clever
  11. rest — what's left
  12. can — a tin
  13. deal — to handle
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. rest — a break
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. bank — for money
  18. track — to keep track
  19. bank — of a river
  20. mug — a cup
  21. bank — for money
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. mug — a face
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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