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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: board · bulb · trunk · scale · field · safe · snap · arm

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. scale — size or range
  8. board — a committee
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. field — farmland
  12. field — a subject
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bulb — for light
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. snap — to click
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. field — for sport
  22. scale — in music
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. board — to get on

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