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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: racket · lean · cabinet · can · rash · toast · craft · pitcher

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. can — a tin
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. craft — a skill
  12. can — to be able to
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. can — a tin
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. lean — thin
  19. craft — boats
  20. toast — bread
  21. rash — a series
  22. rash — hasty
  23. racket — a loud noise
  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