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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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. row — to paddle
  3. track — a path
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. charge — a price
  6. bear — the animal
  7. can — a tin
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. charge — in control
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. rush — hurry
  12. charge — electricity
  13. can — to be able to
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. bear — the animal
  16. court — of law
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. court — for sport
  19. row — a line
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. court — of a king
  22. track — to keep track
  23. can — a tin
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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