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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: toast · bowl · cabinet · present · saw · craft · face · safe

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. saw — the tool
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. face — to point toward
  7. toast — bread
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. craft — a skill
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. present — a gift
  15. craft — boats
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. saw — the tool
  18. face — part of the head
  19. present — the time now
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. present — there
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. face — to confront
  24. safe — out of danger

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