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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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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. pitcher — a jug
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. can — a tin
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. board — to get on
  10. key — in music
  11. wake — a trail
  12. key — for a lock
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. craft — a skill
  15. board — a committee
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. can — to be able to
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. key — the most important part
  22. can — a tin
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. board — a flat piece

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