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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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. bore — to drill
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. bore — to tire
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. track — a path
  8. track — a song
  9. object — a thing
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. can — to be able to
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — a tin
  17. object — an aim
  18. deal — to handle
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. track — to keep track
  23. object — to protest
  24. fan — a supporter

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