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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. cue — for pool
  3. lie — to recline
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. cue — a signal
  12. firm — decided
  13. firm — a company
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. firm — steady
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. wax — to grow
  19. cue — a hint
  20. rash — hasty
  21. rash — a series
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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