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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 120 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
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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: bear · mug · craft · shower · mark · stock · mine · plane

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. craft — boats
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. shower — rain
  7. stock — shares
  8. stock — goods
  9. mug — a cup
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. mine — for digging
  13. craft — a skill
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. bear — the animal
  16. bear — the animal
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. shower — to wash
  19. plane — a tool
  20. mark — a grade
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. mark — a trace
  24. mug — a face

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