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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: object · rock · season · trunk · date · cap · hide · toast

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. cap — a hat
  3. date — the fruit
  4. cap — of ice
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. rock — a stone
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. season — of the year
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. toast — bread
  11. season — in sport
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. cap — a lid
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. object — a thing
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. object — to protest
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. rock — music
  24. object — an aim

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