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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 elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  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. trunk — of an elephant
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. cue — for pool
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. staff — employees
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. march — music
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. staff — a stick
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. mark — a trace
  12. mark — a grade
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. cue — a hint
  18. march — the month
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. cue — a signal
  21. march — the month
  22. staff — employees
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. safe — out of danger

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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