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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. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. key — the most important part
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. plane — a tool
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. mine — for digging
  11. key — in music
  12. chip — to eat
  13. net — after costs
  14. key — for a lock
  15. net — for catching
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. chip — for betting
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. bulb — for light
  21. net — in sport
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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