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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 tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. club — for dancing
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. foot — a measure
  10. club — for golf
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. snap — to click
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. club — a group
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. sharp — clever
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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