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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: lie · can · swing · object · trunk · bank · leaves · game

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. swing — in golf
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. can — a tin
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. lie — to recline
  8. object — an aim
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. swing — to play on
  12. game — a match
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. can — to be able to
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. bank — for money
  18. can — a tin
  19. bank — for money
  20. bank — of a river
  21. object — to protest
  22. game — wild animals
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. swing — music

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