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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. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. spell — magic
  5. spell — a short time
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. toast — bread
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. bass — the fish
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. bass — low music
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. spell — letters
  24. lean — to bend

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