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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. He was locked up in a ________________.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. ball — a dance
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. cell — in biology
  6. ball — a great time
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. bound — certain
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. prune — to trim
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. club — for dancing
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. prune — to trim
  16. bound — obliged
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. bound — tied together
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. cell — in a prison
  21. club — for golf
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. cell — a phone
  24. club — a group

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