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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. roll — a cake
  7. roll — a list
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. bulb — for light
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. bulb — for light
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. can — to be able to
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. can — a tin
  24. patient — a sick person

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