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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. key — in music
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. date — the fruit
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. branch — a division
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. key — for a lock
  15. dip — to sink
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. key — the most important part
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. temple — side of the head

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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