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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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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: chip · craft · fan · board · trunk · nail · wax · bulb

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. chip — for betting
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. wax — to grow
  5. board — a committee
  6. bulb — for light
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. board — to get on
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. chip — to eat
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bulb — for light
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. craft — a skill
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. craft — boats
  24. chip — in a computer

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