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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: kid · fine · tube · trunk · key · scale · coach · can

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. kid — child
  3. key — the most important part
  4. key — in music
  5. can — a tin
  6. fine — all right
  7. key — for a lock
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. can — to be able to
  12. tube — a container
  13. fine — high quality
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. scale — in music
  16. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. tube — the underground
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. can — a tin
  23. kid — to tease
  24. scale — size or range

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