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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: safe · pass · bark · toast · jam · trunk · bore · lean

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. lean — thin
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. bore — to tire
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. toast — bread
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. pass — a permit
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. bore — to drill
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. bark — to shout
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. lean — to bend
  24. safe — out of danger

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