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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. rush — hurry
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. can — to be able to
  6. bank — for money
  7. can — a tin
  8. pitch — completely
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. mark — a grade
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. can — a tin
  17. bank — of a river
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. mark — a trace
  20. bank — for money
  21. wake — a trail
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. leaves — lets stay

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