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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. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. mate — a friend
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. bound — certain
  8. craft — boats
  9. mark — a trace
  10. fine — all right
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. mate — a partner
  13. straw — a straw man
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. fine — high quality
  17. mark — a grade
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. bound — tied together
  20. mate — to breed
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. craft — a skill
  23. trunk — of a car
  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