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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. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. mark — a trace
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. pop — to visit
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. pop — music
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. pop — soda
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. rest — what's left
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. rest — what's left
  18. rest — a break
  19. mark — a grade
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. deal — to handle
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. mark — to pay attention

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