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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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. dip — to sink
  5. suit — to fit
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. suit — in cards
  8. wax — to grow
  9. suit — clothes
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. key — for a lock
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. key — in music
  20. key — the most important part
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. mine — for digging

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