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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: calf · mug · leaves · trunk · bound · prune · temple · ball

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. bound — certain
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. mug — a face
  6. bound — obliged
  7. prune — to trim
  8. prune — to trim
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. ball — a great time
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. bound — tied together
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. mug — to rob
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. ball — a dance
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. mug — a cup
  24. leaves — lets stay

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