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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 120 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
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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: wake · season · board · temple · saw · wave · file · craft

  1. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — boats
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. file — a line of people
  4. season — of the year
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. file — a tool
  10. saw — the tool
  11. file — a document
  12. craft — a skill
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. wake — a trail
  16. board — to get on
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. season — in sport
  21. saw — the tool
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. board — a committee

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