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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: rash · temple · hide · trunk · wake · saw · can · nail

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. wake — a trail
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. can — a tin
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. rash — a series
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. can — a tin
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. can — to be able to
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. saw — the tool
  22. rash — hasty
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. rash — on the skin

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