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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: wound · cue · trunk · nail · can · bear · stock · ground

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. stock — goods
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — the animal
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — a tin
  11. wound — an injury
  12. cue — a hint
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. stock — shares
  16. can — to be able to
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. ground — a position
  19. wound — an injury
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. ground — the earth
  22. cue — a signal
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. ground — crushed

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