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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.

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: ground · chair · pitch · bulb · chest · bank · trunk · wax

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. chair — a leader
  3. chest — a box
  4. chest — of your body
  5. pitch — completely
  6. ground — a position
  7. ground — crushed
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. bank — of a river
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. ground — the earth
  15. bulb — for light
  16. wax — to grow
  17. chest — of your body
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. bulb — for light
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. bank — for money
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. bank — for money

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