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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The water is too ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. can — a tin
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. current — electric
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. current — happening now
  8. suit — in cards
  9. mark — a grade
  10. cold — not warm
  11. bear — the animal
  12. suit — to fit
  13. can — to be able to
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. cold — the Cold War
  16. mark — a trace
  17. current — of water
  18. lie — to recline
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. suit — clothes
  23. can — a tin
  24. cold — an illness

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