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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.

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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: root · cabinet · rash · craft · deal · bound · court · plane

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. plane — a tool
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. bound — tied together
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. root — of a word
  7. craft — a skill
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. root — the cause
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. deal — to handle
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. bound — certain
  14. craft — boats
  15. court — of law
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bound — obliged
  18. rash — a series
  19. root — of a plant
  20. court — for sport
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. court — of a king
  23. rash — hasty
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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