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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.

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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: fork · trunk · stand · foot · toast · track · bass · rock

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. track — to keep track
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. foot — a measure
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. rock — a stone
  11. bass — the fish
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. track — a song
  14. track — a path
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. stand — to bear
  17. toast — bread
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. rock — music
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. fork — in a road
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. stand — for spectators

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