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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 120 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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. branch — a division
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bulb — for light
  7. staff — a stick
  8. staff — employees
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. firm — steady
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. saw — the tool
  14. deal — to handle
  15. bark — to shout
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. saw — the tool
  21. firm — a company
  22. staff — employees
  23. bulb — for light
  24. firm — decided

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