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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: row · stick · craft · bulb · press · trunk · content · pitcher

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. craft — a skill
  3. row — a line
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. press — newspapers
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bulb — for light
  13. row — to paddle
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. content — the amount
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. press — a publisher
  19. craft — boats
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. content — happy
  22. bulb — for light
  23. content — videos and posts
  24. press — to push

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