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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: toast · safe · craft · rock · pitcher · stem · nail · lie

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. craft — a skill
  3. toast — bread
  4. lie — to recline
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. stem — to come from
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. rock — music
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. craft — boats
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. rock — a stone

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