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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: board · craft · root · fan · rash · date · mark · scale

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. mark — a trace
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. board — a committee
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. scale — size or range
  9. rash — hasty
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. scale — in music
  13. board — to get on
  14. rash — a series
  15. mark — a grade
  16. root — the cause
  17. date — the fruit
  18. craft — boats
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. root — of a plant
  24. root — of a word

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