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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: deal · wind · safe · wake · calf · can · net · trunk

  1. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. can — to be able to
  3. deal — to handle
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. wind — to turn a key
  7. wake — a trail
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. net — in sport
  10. net — for catching
  11. net — after costs
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. can — a tin
  16. wind — moving air
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. can — a tin
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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