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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.

Make a worksheet

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: trunk · board · mark · nail · chair · craft · safe · saw

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. mark — a trace
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. craft — boats
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. saw — the tool
  13. mark — a grade
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. craft — a skill
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. chair — a leader
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. board — a committee
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. board — to get on
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. mark — to pay attention

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