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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. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. wake — a trail
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. mug — a face
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. mug — to rob
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. mug — a cup
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. rash — a series
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. lie — to recline
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. rash — hasty

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