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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.

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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: straw · firm · mark · net · temple · trunk · fine · can

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. fine — all right
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. can — a tin
  5. mark — a trace
  6. firm — steady
  7. can — a tin
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. firm — decided
  11. can — to be able to
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. net — after costs
  15. firm — a company
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. net — for catching
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. fine — high quality
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. mark — a grade
  23. net — in sport
  24. fine — a penalty

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