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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.

Make a worksheet

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
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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: pit · safe · game · bear · chair · fall · trunk · fan

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. chair — a professorship
  3. fall — to drop
  4. game — wild animals
  5. pit — in a race
  6. fall — the season
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. chair — to sit on
  12. fall — to drop
  13. game — a match
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. bear — the animal
  16. bear — the animal
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. chair — a leader
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. pit — a hole

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