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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: pit · net · hide · kick · tube · trunk · object · mark

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. pit — in a race
  3. mark — a grade
  4. object — an aim
  5. net — in sport
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. kick — a thrill
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. tube — the underground
  11. kick — in football
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. pit — a hole
  17. net — after costs
  18. mark — a trace
  19. net — for catching
  20. tube — a container
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. object — to protest
  23. object — a thing
  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