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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 chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. rush — hurry
  4. bound — obliged
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. straw — to clutch at straws
  8. bound — certain
  9. straw — a straw man
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. suit — in cards
  12. suit — to fit
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. branch — a division
  16. suit — clothes
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. craft — boats
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. craft — a skill
  22. bound — tied together
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. straw — dry grass

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