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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 124 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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: lie · ground · can · mouse · trunk · date · rush · sharp

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. can — a tin
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. can — to be able to
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. lie — to recline
  14. sharp — clever
  15. ground — the earth
  16. rush — hurry
  17. can — a tin
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. ground — crushed
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. ground — a position
  23. date — the fruit
  24. mouse — the animal

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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