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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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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: bulb · hand · rock · foot · bass · trunk · bank · lash

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. rock — a stone
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. foot — a measure
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. bank — of a river
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. bank — for money
  10. bass — the fish
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. bulb — for light
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. hand — in cards
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bulb — for light
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. bank — for money
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. rock — music
  22. hand — help
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. bass — low music

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