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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. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. rush — hurry
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. craft — boats
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. mug — to rob
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. mug — a cup
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. mug — a face
  18. craft — a skill
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. pit — in a race
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. rush — a thrill

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