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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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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: bowl · bark · ball · bay · pit · nail · bank · trunk

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. bank — for money
  3. pit — a hole
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. bark — to shout
  7. ball — a dance
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. pit — in a race
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. bank — of a river
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. ball — a great time
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. bank — for money
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. trunk — of a car

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