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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. can — a tin
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. can — to be able to
  14. perch — the fish
  15. can — a tin
  16. hand — in cards
  17. hand — help
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. saw — the tool
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. saw — the tool

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