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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. land — to come down
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. land — a country
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. stem — to come from
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. scale — in music
  14. land — ground
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. current — of water
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. current — happening now
  21. current — electric
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. coach — a trainer

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