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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: dip · bowl · object · straw · bound · squash · sharp · trunk

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. sharp — clever
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. straw — dry grass
  7. bound — tied together
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. object — an aim
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. bound — certain
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. dip — to sink
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. bound — obliged
  17. squash — to crush
  18. squash — the sport
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. object — to protest
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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