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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 · date · charge · mark · bear · safe · bank · lash

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. bear — the animal
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. bank — for money
  6. charge — a price
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. charge — in control
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. bank — of a river
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. charge — electricity
  16. bear — the animal
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. mark — a trace
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. date — the fruit
  23. bank — for money
  24. mark — a grade

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