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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: craft · safe · scale · foot · lash · object · dip · can

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  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. can — a tin
  2. can — to be able to
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. can — a tin
  5. foot — a measure
  6. object — a thing
  7. dip — to sink
  8. craft — boats
  9. scale — size or range
  10. object — to protest
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. scale — in music
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. object — an aim
  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