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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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 · charge · prune · calf · cue · lash · mouse · leaves

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. prune — to trim
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. cue — a hint
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. charge — a price
  8. prune — to trim
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. cue — a signal
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. charge — in control
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. charge — electricity

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