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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. row — to paddle
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. staff — employees
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. chip — to eat
  11. rush — hurry
  12. plane — a tool
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. row — a line
  15. staff — a stick
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. chip — for betting
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. staff — employees
  24. row — a quarrel

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