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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: craft · plane · mate · stock · lean · sharp · bass · stand

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. lean — thin
  6. plane — a tool
  7. stand — to bear
  8. craft — a skill
  9. sharp — clever
  10. bass — low music
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. mate — to breed
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. stock — shares
  18. mate — a friend
  19. stock — goods
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. lean — to bend
  22. craft — boats
  23. bass — the fish
  24. mate — a partner

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