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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: lie · mate · saw · chip · safe · hand · trunk · coach

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. hand — in cards
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. saw — the tool
  9. mate — to breed
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. saw — the tool
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. lie — to recline
  17. hand — help
  18. chip — for betting
  19. chip — to eat
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. mate — a partner
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. mate — a friend

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