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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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. date — the fruit
  4. foot — a measure
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. charge — electricity
  7. craft — boats
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. craft — a skill
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. lie — to recline
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. charge — in control
  15. charge — a price
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. date — on the calendar

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