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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: trunk · coach · bore · prune · tube · mark · date · rock

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. tube — the underground
  5. rock — music
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mark — a grade
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. bore — to tire
  15. date — the fruit
  16. prune — to trim
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. prune — to trim
  19. tube — a container
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. rock — a stone
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. trunk — of a car

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