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

Word bank: temple · wound · mate · mark · rule · trunk · craft · charge

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. mate — a partner
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. rule — government
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. mate — to breed
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. rule — a law
  10. craft — boats
  11. charge — in control
  12. rule — to rule out
  13. craft — a skill
  14. charge — electricity
  15. mark — a grade
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. mate — a friend
  18. charge — a price
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. wound — an injury
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. wound — an injury
  24. mark — a trace

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