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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 116 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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. can — a tin
  3. lie — to recline
  4. fork — in a road
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. rash — a series
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. can — to be able to
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. pass — a permit
  12. rash — hasty
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. vault — a safe
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. pass — to spend time

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