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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: bore · mark · saw · safe · chip · sharp · stem · trunk

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. bore — to drill
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. saw — the tool
  5. chip — for betting
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. stem — to come from
  14. mark — a grade
  15. sharp — clever
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. saw — the tool
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. mark — a trace
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. bore — to tire
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. chip — to eat

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