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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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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 · key · spell · pound · stick · safe · foot · prune

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. spell — magic
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. spell — a short time
  8. prune — to trim
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. prune — to trim
  11. key — for a lock
  12. foot — a measure
  13. key — the most important part
  14. pound — a weight
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. spell — letters
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. pound — for dogs

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