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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.

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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: pitcher · craft · lash · cabinet · face · calf · plane · season

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. face — to point toward
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. season — of the year
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. face — part of the head
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. season — in sport
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. face — to confront
  19. craft — a skill
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. craft — boats
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. plane — in geometry

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