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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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. rest — a break
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. squash — the sport
  9. bark — to shout
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. charge — a price
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. charge — electricity
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. rest — what's left
  21. squash — to crush
  22. charge — in control
  23. rest — what's left
  24. toast — bread

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