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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 116 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 tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  4. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. tear — from crying
  4. tear — from crying
  5. bulb — for light
  6. rock — a stone
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. bulb — for light
  9. cap — of ice
  10. can — a tin
  11. cue — a signal
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. rock — music
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. can — a tin
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. cue — a hint
  19. cap — a lid
  20. tear — to rip
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. cap — a hat
  23. can — to be able to
  24. cue — for pool

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