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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: stock · rock · craft · safe · spell · plane · bore · sharp

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. rock — a stone
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. stock — goods
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. bore — to tire
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. stock — shares
  9. bore — to drill
  10. spell — letters
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. spell — a short time
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. craft — a skill
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. rock — music
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. sharp — clever
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. craft — boats
  23. spell — magic
  24. plane — a tool

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