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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. charge — a price
  7. last — finally
  8. charge — electricity
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. wake — a trail
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. hand — help
  19. plane — a tool
  20. hand — in cards
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. charge — in control
  23. last — to go on
  24. last — final

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