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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.

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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: craft · bark · suit · cap · fine · bear · bound · spell

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. cap — a hat
  4. fine — high quality
  5. spell — letters
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. cap — of ice
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. craft — boats
  10. spell — a short time
  11. spell — magic
  12. bound — obliged
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. bound — tied together
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. cap — a lid
  17. suit — to fit
  18. bear — the animal
  19. fine — all right
  20. craft — a skill
  21. bear — the animal
  22. suit — in cards
  23. bound — certain
  24. bark — to shout

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