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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. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — boats
  2. craft — a skill
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. lean — to bend
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. hand — help
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. stand — to bear
  9. cue — a signal
  10. plane — a tool
  11. hand — in cards
  12. lean — thin
  13. cue — for pool
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. rush — hurry
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. cue — a hint
  22. current — electric
  23. current — happening now
  24. current — of water

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