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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: charge · bass · calf · craft · toast · trunk · wave · prune

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. bass — the fish
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. toast — bread
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. prune — to trim
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. charge — electricity
  14. bass — low music
  15. charge — in control
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. craft — a skill
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. prune — to trim
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. charge — a price
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. craft — boats

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