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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: toast · craft · bound · shower · cabinet · bear · mark · rock

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. shower — rain
  3. mark — a trace
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. bear — the animal
  8. rock — a stone
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. bound — obliged
  11. mark — a grade
  12. bound — certain
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. bound — tied together
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. toast — bread
  18. bear — the animal
  19. craft — boats
  20. rock — music
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. craft — a skill
  24. shower — to wash

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