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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
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: root · mate · can · wax · pound · pitcher · rash · craft

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. can — to be able to
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. root — of a plant
  5. root — the cause
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pound — a weight
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. root — of a word
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. can — a tin
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. craft — a skill
  14. rash — a series
  15. pound — to hit hard
  16. mate — a partner
  17. can — a tin
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. rash — hasty
  20. mate — to breed
  21. wax — to grow
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. mate — a friend
  24. craft — boats

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