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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 120 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: wound · can · trunk · bear · calf · ball · lash · suit

  1. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — to be able to
  6. suit — clothes
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. suit — in cards
  11. ball — a great time
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. wound — an injury
  16. bear — the animal
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. ball — a dance
  19. suit — to fit
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. can — a tin
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bear — to put up with

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