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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.

Make a worksheet

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: wave · craft · plane · nail · chip · ball · net · temple

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. craft — boats
  3. net — after costs
  4. ball — a great time
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. ball — a dance
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. chip — to eat
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. chip — for betting
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. plane — a tool
  22. net — in sport
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. craft — a skill

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