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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: craft · plane · rush · saw · wave · cabinet · leaves · pop

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. pop — soda
  3. saw — the tool
  4. plane — a tool
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. saw — the tool
  9. pop — music
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. pop — to visit
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. craft — a skill
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. craft — boats
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. rush — hurry
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. cabinet — ministers

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