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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. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. band — a rubber band
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. rush — hurry
  12. sharp — clever
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. band — a ring
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. band — a music group
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. bowl — a football final

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