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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.

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: current · wake · bark · ruler · pit · trunk · nail · rash

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. rash — a series
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. wake — a trail
  5. bark — of a tree
  6. pit — a hole
  7. current — of water
  8. current — electric
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. rash — hasty
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. bark — to shout
  22. pit — in a race
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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