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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: spell · cabinet · craft · tube · season · ruler · ball · trunk

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. ball — a dance
  8. tube — a container
  9. tube — the underground
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. spell — magic
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. craft — a skill
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. ball — a great time
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. craft — boats
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. spell — letters
  22. season — of the year
  23. season — in sport
  24. spell — a short time

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