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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. current — electric
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. rock — music
  9. current — happening now
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. current — of water
  13. rock — a stone
  14. squash — the sport
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. squash — to crush
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. plane — a tool
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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