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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. rush — hurry
  4. ball — a great time
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. perch — the fish
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. rash — hasty
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. rash — a series
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. ball — a dance
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. perch — for a bird

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