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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. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. tube — the underground
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. bound — tied together
  11. bound — certain
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. bear — the animal
  14. season — of the year
  15. season — in sport
  16. bulb — for light
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. bound — obliged
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. tube — a container
  21. bear — the animal
  22. rush — hurry
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. bear — to put up with

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