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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: land · rock · firm · mouse · trunk · fork · leaves · cue

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. cue — a hint
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. cue — for pool
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. land — a country
  11. rock — a stone
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. land — ground
  15. land — to come down
  16. firm — steady
  17. fork — in a road
  18. firm — a company
  19. rock — music
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. cue — a signal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. firm — decided

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