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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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. rest — what's left
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. prune — to trim
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. rest — a break
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. rash — a series
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. rest — what's left
  18. rash — hasty
  19. toast — bread
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. prune — to trim
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. prune — the fruit

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