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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 elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bore — to tire
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. mug — a face
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. rock — music
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. game — a match
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. bore — to drill
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. game — wild animals
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. rock — a stone
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. mug — to rob
  24. mug — a cup

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