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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. plane — a tool
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. bore — to tire
  7. mug — a face
  8. mug — a cup
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. rash — a series
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. track — to keep track
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. track — a song
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. mug — to rob
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. track — a path
  24. bore — to drill

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