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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. craft — a skill
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. land — to come down
  7. land — a country
  8. wax — to grow
  9. net — after costs
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. net — in sport
  12. land — ground
  13. plane — a tool
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. craft — boats
  17. net — for catching
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. stand — to bear
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. leaves — of a tree

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