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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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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: mate · can · bowl · court · cell · firm · trunk · pit

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. He was locked up in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. mate — a partner
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — to be able to
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. court — for sport
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. pit — a hole
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. mate — a friend
  15. firm — steady
  16. firm — a company
  17. court — of law
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. court — of a king
  20. pit — in a race
  21. mate — to breed
  22. cell — a phone
  23. firm — decided
  24. cell — in a prison

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