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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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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: bank · kick · trunk · object · arm · craft · sharp · pound

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. object — an aim
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. craft — a skill
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. bank — for money
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. object — a thing
  11. sharp — clever
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. pound — a weight
  14. object — to protest
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. craft — boats
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. bank — for money
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. bank — of a river
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. kick — with a leg

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