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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.

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: bass · can · bore · net · trunk · spell · lash · ball

  1. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. net — after costs
  4. ball — a dance
  5. net — for catching
  6. bass — the fish
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. bass — low music
  9. bore — to tire
  10. spell — a short time
  11. ball — a great time
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. bore — to drill
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. spell — magic
  20. can — a tin
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. net — in sport
  24. spell — letters

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