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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. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. rock — a stone
  4. track — a song
  5. rock — music
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. prune — to trim
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. kid — child
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. kid — to tease
  13. bank — for money
  14. prune — to trim
  15. bank — for money
  16. track — to keep track
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. track — a path
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. bank — of a river
  24. mouse — the animal

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