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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. craft — boats
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. press — to push
  5. press — newspapers
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. scale — in music
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. firm — steady
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. firm — decided
  14. scale — size or range
  15. craft — a skill
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. press — a publisher
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. sharp — clever
  22. branch — a division
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. firm — a company

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