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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. tube — the underground
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. mug — a face
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. stock — goods
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bulb — for light
  12. tube — a container
  13. stock — shares
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. bulb — for light
  16. current — electric
  17. current — of water
  18. mug — to rob
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. current — happening now
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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