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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 · bark · press · rock · key · leaves · charge · toast

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. charge — a price
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. rock — music
  8. charge — electricity
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. rock — a stone
  11. press — to push
  12. toast — bread
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. press — a publisher
  15. bark — to shout
  16. key — the most important part
  17. key — in music
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. bark — of a tree
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. key — for a lock
  24. charge — in control

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