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

Word bank: foot · leaves · pop · bulb · trunk · chest · kid · ruler

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  11. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. pop — music
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. chest — a box
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. chest — of your body
  10. kid — to tease
  11. chest — of your body
  12. bulb — for light
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. kid — child
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. pop — soda
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. bulb — for light
  22. pop — to visit
  23. foot — a measure
  24. kid — young goat (kid gloves)

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