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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: trunk · safe · saw · pit · key · press · kid · stock

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. pit — in a race
  6. key — the most important part
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. press — to push
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. kid — child
  11. key — for a lock
  12. pit — a hole
  13. saw — the tool
  14. kid — to tease
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. saw — the tool
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. key — in music
  20. press — a publisher
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. stock — goods
  23. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  24. stock — shares

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