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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.

Make a worksheet

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: wound · trunk · key · chair · ruler · mug · net · tube

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. net — for catching
  3. key — in music
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. wound — an injury
  9. key — the most important part
  10. wound — an injury
  11. mug — to rob
  12. chair — a leader
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. key — for a lock
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. chair — a professorship
  19. tube — the underground
  20. mug — a cup
  21. net — after costs
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. tube — a container
  24. net — in sport

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