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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: leaves · trunk · drill · present · deal · pass · foot · bowl

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. drill — the tool
  6. drill — army training
  7. present — the time now
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. pass — a permit
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. foot — a measure
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. drill — a practice
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. present — there
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. present — a gift

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