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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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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. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. board — a committee
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. board — to get on
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. can — to be able to
  12. chip — to eat
  13. sharp — clever
  14. can — a tin
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. bound — certain
  18. can — a tin
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. chip — for betting
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. bound — tied together
  23. craft — boats
  24. bound — obliged

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