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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. chest — of your body
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. mark — a trace
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. chest — a box
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. mark — a grade
  13. chest — of your body
  14. object — a thing
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. object — an aim
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. object — to protest

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