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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.

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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: fork · craft · key · bank · racket · wax · rash · perch

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. key — for a lock
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. fork — in a road
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. bank — of a river
  10. bank — for money
  11. key — the most important part
  12. perch — the fish
  13. craft — a skill
  14. wax — to grow
  15. craft — boats
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. rash — hasty
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. key — in music
  23. bank — for money
  24. wax — in the ear

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