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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: cabinet · current · fine · craft · sharp · game · lash · perch

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. current — electric
  3. perch — the fish
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. sharp — clever
  6. game — a match
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. current — happening now
  11. game — wild animals
  12. fine — high quality
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. current — of water
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. craft — a skill
  18. fine — all right
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. craft — boats
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. sharp — with an edge

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