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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. pop — soda
  4. can — to be able to
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. scale — in music
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. pop — to visit
  10. staff — employees
  11. staff — a stick
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. can — a tin
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. can — a tin
  17. scale — size or range
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. pop — music
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. staff — employees

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