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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 120 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
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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: rock · foot · chip · lash · rash · bank · trunk · spell

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. rock — a stone
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. chip — for betting
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. spell — a short time
  8. rock — music
  9. chip — to eat
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. foot — a measure
  12. spell — magic
  13. rash — hasty
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. rash — a series
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. spell — letters
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. bank — for money
  21. bank — for money
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. bank — of a river
  24. lash — to lash out

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