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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. can — a tin
  5. pit — in a race
  6. chip — to eat
  7. can — to be able to
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. tube — the underground
  15. tube — a container
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. ball — a dance
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. pit — a hole
  20. chip — for betting
  21. ball — a great time
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. trunk — of a tree

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