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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: rash · trunk · cabinet · stem · chip · leaves · plane · object

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. rash — a series
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. rash — hasty
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. chip — to eat
  12. stem — to come from
  13. plane — a tool
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. object — an aim
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. object — to protest
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. chip — for betting

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