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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 120 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. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. spring — of water
  3. spring — a coil
  4. suit — clothes
  5. perch — the fish
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. ball — a dance
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. spring — the season
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. charge — in control
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. charge — a price
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. suit — in cards
  17. fall — to drop
  18. suit — to fit
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. ball — a great time
  22. fall — the season
  23. charge — electricity
  24. bay — to keep at bay

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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