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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 elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. deal — to handle
  6. suit — in cards
  7. spring — of water
  8. land — to come down
  9. stand — to bear
  10. suit — clothes
  11. suit — to fit
  12. land — a country
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. rock — a stone
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. spring — the season
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. land — ground
  21. rock — music
  22. plane — a tool
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. spring — a coil

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