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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 tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. bass — the fish
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. bulb — for light
  8. firm — a company
  9. bulb — for light
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. bass — low music
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. mate — to breed
  15. lie — to recline
  16. swing — in golf
  17. firm — decided
  18. mate — a friend
  19. swing — music
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. firm — steady
  22. mate — a partner
  23. swing — to play on
  24. trunk — of a car

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