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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. mug — a face
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. rock — a stone
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. wound — an injury
  10. mark — a grade
  11. wound — an injury
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bulb — for light
  17. plane — a tool
  18. mark — a trace
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. rock — music
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. mug — to rob
  24. plane — in geometry

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