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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: craft · stick · cap · leaves · court · trunk · band · fan

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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. court — of a king
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. cap — of ice
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. court — of law
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. cap — a hat
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. craft — a skill
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. band — a music group
  18. cap — a lid
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. court — for sport
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. band — a ring
  23. craft — boats
  24. leaves — of a tree

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