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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: trunk · chip · bowl · safe · snap · stock · hand · board

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. stock — shares
  3. snap — to click
  4. hand — in cards
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. chip — to eat
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. chip — for betting
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. board — to get on
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. hand — help
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. stock — goods
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. board — a committee
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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