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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 116 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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. plane — a tool
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. craft — boats
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. last — to go on
  9. last — final
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. current — electric
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. sharp — clever
  15. craft — a skill
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. rush — hurry
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. current — of water
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. game — a match
  22. game — wild animals
  23. last — finally
  24. sharp — exactly

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