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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. pound — to hit hard
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. pound — a weight
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. pound — for dogs
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. ball — a great time
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. bulb — for light
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. ball — a dance
  22. pass — a permit
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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