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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. spell — a short time
  4. can — a tin
  5. toast — bread
  6. spell — letters
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. spell — magic
  13. staff — a stick
  14. staff — employees
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. can — to be able to
  17. current — happening now
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. current — of water
  20. staff — employees
  21. current — electric
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. can — a tin

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