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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: trunk · season · rock · ball · stick · shower · safe · mark

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. shower — rain
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. mark — a grade
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. mark — a trace
  13. season — in sport
  14. shower — to wash
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. ball — a dance
  17. season — of the year
  18. ball — a great time
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. rock — music
  21. rock — a stone
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. season — to add flavour

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