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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 ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. object — an aim
  3. suit — clothes
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. suit — to fit
  6. bark — to shout
  7. rest — a break
  8. game — wild animals
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. object — to protest
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. firm — decided
  14. firm — a company
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — a tin
  17. object — a thing
  18. firm — steady
  19. bark — of a tree
  20. suit — in cards
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. rest — what's left
  23. can — to be able to
  24. game — a match

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