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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.

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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: bound · squash · fine · leaves · kick · shower · can · trunk

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. bound — tied together
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. bound — obliged
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. squash — to crush
  10. can — a tin
  11. kick — a thrill
  12. fine — high quality
  13. shower — rain
  14. squash — the sport
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. fine — all right
  17. kick — in football
  18. can — to be able to
  19. can — a tin
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. shower — to wash
  23. kick — with a leg
  24. bound — certain

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