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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: trunk · craft · ruler · lash · calf · straw · fan · sharp

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  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. trunk — of a tree
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. craft — a skill
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. sharp — clever
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. craft — boats
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. straw — a straw man
  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