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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 116 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: present · pitcher · ball · root · craft · leaves · bound · racket

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. ball — a dance
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. root — of a word
  5. present — the time now
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. root — of a plant
  10. bound — obliged
  11. craft — boats
  12. present — a gift
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. present — there
  15. bound — certain
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. bound — tied together
  20. ball — a great time
  21. root — the cause
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. craft — a handicraft

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