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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: fan · cabinet · toast · game · lie · track · craft · plane

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. craft — boats
  10. lie — to recline
  11. craft — a skill
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. track — a path
  16. toast — bread
  17. plane — a tool
  18. track — to keep track
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. track — a song
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. game — wild animals
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. game — a match

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