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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 116 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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. track — to keep track
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. saw — the tool
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. chip — for betting
  7. track — a song
  8. bulb — for light
  9. track — a path
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. bulb — for light
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. saw — the tool
  17. chip — to eat
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. lash — to lash out

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