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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 116 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 tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. current — electric
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rock — music
  9. current — happening now
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. spell — letters
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. spell — a short time
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. cap — a hat
  16. cap — a lid
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. spell — magic
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. cap — of ice
  22. current — of water
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. mouse — the animal

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