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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 elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. club — for dancing
  4. deal — to handle
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. net — for catching
  8. club — for golf
  9. saw — the tool
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. net — in sport
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. club — a group
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. saw — the tool
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. pass — a permit
  20. net — after costs
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. pass — to succeed

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