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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 124 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. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. fine — all right
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. prune — to trim
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. prune — to trim
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. fine — high quality
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. ruler — for measuring

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