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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. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. can — to be able to
  3. wax — to grow
  4. chip — for betting
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. ground — a position
  13. chip — to eat
  14. branch — a division
  15. bear — the animal
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. can — a tin
  20. can — a tin
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. ground — the earth
  24. ground — crushed

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