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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: season · trunk · safe · stand · bore · land · key · can

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. season — in sport
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. land — a country
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — a tin
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. key — the most important part
  11. land — to come down
  12. key — for a lock
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. season — of the year
  15. land — ground
  16. key — in music
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. can — to be able to
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. bore — to tire
  21. stand — to bear
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. bore — to drill

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