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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: trunk · bay · hide · suit · bulb · sharp · lie · jam

  1. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. bulb — for light
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. lie — to recline
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. suit — clothes
  17. suit — to fit
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. sharp — clever
  22. bulb — for light
  23. suit — in cards
  24. hide — animal skin

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