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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.

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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: nail · charge · mine · land · rock · trunk · suit · calf

  1. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. land — to come down
  3. rock — a stone
  4. charge — a price
  5. land — ground
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. charge — electricity
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. mine — for digging
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. suit — clothes
  12. suit — in cards
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. rock — music
  17. charge — in control
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. suit — to fit
  24. calf — a young animal

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