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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 120 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: rash · row · current · mate · leaves · suit · trunk · ball

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. ball — a great time
  3. current — of water
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. suit — to fit
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. current — happening now
  9. ball — a dance
  10. current — electric
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. rash — a series
  13. suit — in cards
  14. row — a line
  15. rash — hasty
  16. mate — to breed
  17. suit — clothes
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. row — to paddle
  20. mate — a partner
  21. mate — a friend
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. trunk — of a car

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