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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. ball — a great time
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. rock — music
  8. board — to get on
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. board — a committee
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. ball — a dance
  20. mark — a grade
  21. rock — a stone
  22. wax — to grow
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. fork — in a road

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