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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. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. fine — all right
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. wax — to grow
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. pitch — completely
  11. fine — high quality
  12. bulb — for light
  13. perch — the fish
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. bulb — for light
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. lie — to recline
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. fine — a penalty

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