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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. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. rush — hurry
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. mark — a trace
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. mug — a face
  10. mug — to rob
  11. mug — a cup
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. roll — a list
  15. mark — a grade
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. rock — a stone
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. rock — music
  24. roll — a cake

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