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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: net · key · leaves · craft · bear · face · sharp · calf

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  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. bear — to put up with
  2. sharp — clever
  3. bear — the animal
  4. face — part of the head
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. net — for catching
  7. craft — a skill
  8. key — the most important part
  9. net — in sport
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. key — for a lock
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. key — in music
  17. net — after costs
  18. face — to confront
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. bear — the animal
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. face — to point toward
  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