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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 muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — to be able to
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. present — a gift
  6. track — a song
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. staff — employees
  9. mark — a grade
  10. present — there
  11. staff — a stick
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. mark — a trace
  14. track — to keep track
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. present — the time now
  17. staff — employees
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. can — a tin

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