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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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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: face · kick · foot · trunk · bulb · toast · mouse · snap

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. face — part of the head
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. toast — bread
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. kick — in football
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. snap — to click
  11. face — to confront
  12. bulb — for light
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. foot — a measure
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. face — to point toward
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. kick — with a leg
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. kick — a thrill

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