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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 116 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: trunk · nail · ball · firm · lie · bank · pitcher · fork

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. firm — decided
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. bank — of a river
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. firm — a company
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. bank — for money
  15. lie — to recline
  16. ball — a dance
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. bank — for money
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. ball — a great time
  22. fork — in a road
  23. firm — steady
  24. pitcher — a jug

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