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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. prune — to trim
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. toast — bread
  11. wound — an injury
  12. prune — to trim
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. wound — an injury
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. present — a gift
  21. present — there
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. present — the time now
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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