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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. tube — the underground
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. last — finally
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. board — to get on
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. last — final
  12. last — to go on
  13. board — a committee
  14. mark — a grade
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. mark — a trace
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. foot — a measure
  23. tube — a container
  24. racket — a loud noise

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