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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 · craft · saw · fan · root · racket · mug · cabinet

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. root — of a plant
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. mug — to rob
  11. saw — the tool
  12. saw — the tool
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. craft — boats
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. plane — a tool
  18. root — of a word
  19. mug — a cup
  20. craft — a skill
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. mug — a face
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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