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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 120 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 · dip · rock · safe · trunk · bound · rash · club

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. craft — a skill
  5. bound — obliged
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. bound — certain
  8. club — a group
  9. dip — to sink
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. bound — tied together
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. rock — a stone
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. craft — boats
  18. club — for dancing
  19. rock — music
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. club — for golf
  23. rash — hasty
  24. rash — a series

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