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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 116 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. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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 an elephant
  3. can — a tin
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. mark — a trace
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. can — to be able to
  11. mark — a grade
  12. spring — a coil
  13. spring — the season
  14. lie — to recline
  15. land — to come down
  16. can — a tin
  17. land — a country
  18. fine — all right
  19. land — ground
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. spring — of water
  24. fine — high quality

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