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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.

Make a worksheet

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: arm · rock · can · season · coach · trunk · toast · pit

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. can — to be able to
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. pit — a hole
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. rock — a stone
  9. can — a tin
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. pit — in a race
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. rock — music
  17. can — a tin
  18. season — of the year
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. toast — bread

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