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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. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. mug — to rob
  4. lean — thin
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. can — a tin
  9. cap — a hat
  10. lean — to bend
  11. cap — of ice
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. suit — in cards
  14. suit — to fit
  15. mug — a cup
  16. cap — a lid
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. mug — a face
  20. can — to be able to
  21. season — of the year
  22. season — in sport
  23. can — a tin
  24. suit — clothes

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