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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  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. mouse — for a computer
  2. drill — the tool
  3. drill — army training
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. branch — a division
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. drill — a practice
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. prune — to trim
  13. prune — to trim
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. object — an aim
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. sharp — clever
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. object — a thing
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. object — to protest
  23. branch — of a tree
  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