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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: season · craft · stand · plane · bound · mark · trunk · bark

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. bound — tied together
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. bark — to shout
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. stand — to bear
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. season — of the year
  16. season — in sport
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. craft — boats
  19. bound — certain
  20. mark — a trace
  21. craft — a skill
  22. bound — obliged
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. mark — a grade

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