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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. can — a tin
  4. mate — a friend
  5. charge — electricity
  6. mate — a partner
  7. lie — to recline
  8. plane — a tool
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. mate — to breed
  11. can — a tin
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. can — to be able to
  14. track — a path
  15. charge — in control
  16. track — a song
  17. charge — a price
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. plane — in geometry

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