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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 elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. net — for catching
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. stock — goods
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. cue — for pool
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. lean — to bend
  13. net — in sport
  14. deal — to handle
  15. net — after costs
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. lean — thin
  18. stock — shares
  19. cue — a signal
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. cue — a hint
  23. snap — to click
  24. trunk — of a tree

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