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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  3. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  20. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. chest — a box
  3. straw — a straw man
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. wax — to grow
  8. mug — to rob
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. mug — a face
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. march — music
  13. march — the month
  14. mug — a cup
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. fine — high quality
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. chest — of your body
  20. chest — of your body
  21. fine — all right
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. wax — for sculpting

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