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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. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  12. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. key — in music
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. mark — a trace
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. can — a tin
  7. key — for a lock
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. chest — of your body
  12. chest — of your body
  13. key — the most important part
  14. snap — to click
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. can — a tin
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. chest — a box
  22. mark — a grade
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. can — to be able to

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