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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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. craft — a skill
  5. bulb — for light
  6. craft — boats
  7. bank — of a river
  8. bulb — for light
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. bear — the animal
  11. last — to go on
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. last — finally
  15. bear — the animal
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. bank — for money
  19. last — final
  20. rock — a stone
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. rock — music
  24. ruler — for measuring

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