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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. rush — hurry
  3. staff — a stick
  4. vault — a safe
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. key — in music
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. key — for a lock
  13. file — a tool
  14. key — the most important part
  15. file — a line of people
  16. can — a tin
  17. file — a document
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. staff — employees
  21. staff — employees
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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