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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. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. board — a committee
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. track — a path
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. track — to keep track
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. board — to get on
  14. fine — high quality
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. track — a song
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. tube — a container
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. fine — all right
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. tube — the underground
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. fine — a penalty

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