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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. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  10. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. lean — to bend
  5. content — the amount
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. bulb — for light
  9. content — happy
  10. chair — a leader
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. bear — the animal
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. bear — the animal
  17. mark — a trace
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. chair — to sit on
  21. lean — thin
  22. mark — a grade
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bear — to put up with

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