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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: bore · perch · cabinet · straw · craft · nail · lie · bark

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. bore — to tire
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. craft — a skill
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. perch — the fish
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. lie — to recline
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bore — to drill
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. craft — boats

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