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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: bore · sharp · craft · face · squash · bulb · trunk · saw

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. bore — to tire
  9. bulb — for light
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. bore — to drill
  12. saw — the tool
  13. face — to point toward
  14. saw — the tool
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. squash — the sport
  17. face — part of the head
  18. craft — a skill
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. face — to confront
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. craft — boats
  23. bulb — for light
  24. sharp — clever

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