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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. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. spring — of water
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. rock — a stone
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. spring — the season
  12. kick — with a leg
  13. kick — in football
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. lie — to recline
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. rock — music
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. spring — a coil
  24. mouse — the animal

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