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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. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. bulb — for light
  3. can — a tin
  4. chair — a professorship
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. can — a tin
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. object — a thing
  10. can — to be able to
  11. band — a ring
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. object — an aim
  15. bulb — for light
  16. object — to protest
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. chair — a leader
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. rush — hurry
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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