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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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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: face · trunk · calf · mate · rush · ball · foot · pop

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. mate — a friend
  5. face — to point toward
  6. ball — a great time
  7. pop — soda
  8. ball — a dance
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. rush — hurry
  11. pop — to visit
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. mate — to breed
  14. face — part of the head
  15. pop — music
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. foot — a measure
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. face — to confront
  22. mate — a partner
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. calf — of the leg

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