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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lie — to recline
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. pop — to visit
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. bulb — for light
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pop — soda
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. stock — goods
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. stock — shares
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pop — music
  24. bulb — of a plant

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