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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. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — a break
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. can — a tin
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. spring — the season
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. kick — a thrill
  12. spring — of water
  13. spring — a coil
  14. can — a tin
  15. rest — what's left
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. mine — for digging
  19. kick — with a leg
  20. rest — what's left
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. can — to be able to
  23. kick — in football
  24. safe — a strongbox

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