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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. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. saw — the tool
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. bulb — for light
  8. board — a committee
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. board — to get on
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. net — for catching
  14. saw — the tool
  15. object — a thing
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. object — to protest
  20. object — an aim
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. net — in sport
  23. net — after costs
  24. bulb — for light

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