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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: wax · trunk · wound · bass · pitcher · bound · stock · club

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. bound — obliged
  4. stock — goods
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. wax — to grow
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. bass — low music
  11. club — a group
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. bound — tied together
  14. club — for dancing
  15. bound — certain
  16. club — for golf
  17. bass — the fish
  18. stock — shares
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. wound — an injury
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. wound — an injury

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