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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. present — there
  3. root — of a plant
  4. craft — a skill
  5. craft — boats
  6. current — happening now
  7. present — the time now
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. mate — to breed
  10. root — of a word
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. current — of water
  13. current — electric
  14. mate — a friend
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. root — the cause
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. mark — a trace
  20. scale — in music
  21. present — a gift
  22. mate — a partner
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. mark — a grade

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