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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 · chest · coach · can · chip · pit · track · arm

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. pit — a hole
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. can — a tin
  9. chest — of your body
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. track — to keep track
  12. chest — of your body
  13. can — to be able to
  14. can — a tin
  15. pit — in a race
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. chest — a box
  18. track — a song
  19. chip — for betting
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. chip — to eat
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. track — a path

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