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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: bulb · craft · board · leaves · wax · squash · racket · mark

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. mark — a trace
  4. craft — a skill
  5. bulb — for light
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. board — to get on
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. wax — to grow
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. mark — a grade
  19. board — a committee
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. squash — the sport
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. craft — boats
  24. bulb — for light

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