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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. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. rest — what's left
  4. can — to be able to
  5. mark — a trace
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. can — a tin
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. mark — a grade
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. rest — what's left
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. rock — a stone
  15. can — a tin
  16. cap — a hat
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. cap — a lid
  20. rest — a break
  21. rock — music
  22. cap — of ice
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. safe — a strongbox

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