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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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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: track · rule · fan · pitcher · rock · trunk · kick · bulb

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  11. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. rock — a stone
  5. kick — a thrill
  6. track — a song
  7. bulb — for light
  8. track — to keep track
  9. rock — music
  10. rule — to rule out
  11. kick — in football
  12. rule — government
  13. rule — a law
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. track — a path
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. kick — with a leg
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. bulb — for light
  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