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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 office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. mate — to breed
  5. mate — a partner
  6. mate — a friend
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. staff — employees
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. wax — to grow
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. staff — a stick
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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