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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 116 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
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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: nail · can · ruler · mark · calf · trunk · wound · chip

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. can — to be able to
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. wound — an injury
  9. mark — a grade
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. mark — a trace
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. can — a tin
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. chip — for betting
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. chip — to eat
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. wound — an injury

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