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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: plane · bank · bay · season · wake · craft · suit · date

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. suit — to fit
  4. bank — for money
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. plane — a tool
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. date — the fruit
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. suit — in cards
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. craft — boats
  14. bank — of a river
  15. suit — clothes
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. season — in sport
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. bank — for money
  20. season — of the year
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. wake — a trail

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