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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 120 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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. deal — to handle
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. rock — music
  8. chest — a box
  9. rock — a stone
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. dip — to sink
  12. chest — of your body
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. stand — to bear
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. chest — of your body
  21. rush — hurry
  22. sharp — clever
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. deal — a big deal

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