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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 116 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: rock · scale · drill · craft · track · stick · dip · trunk

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. track — to keep track
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. craft — boats
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. drill — the tool
  8. scale — size or range
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. craft — a skill
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. scale — in music
  16. dip — to sink
  17. track — a path
  18. rock — music
  19. track — a song
  20. rock — a stone
  21. drill — a practice
  22. drill — army training
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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