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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: clip · ruler · wake · bear · season · hand · stem · craft

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. craft — a skill
  4. hand — help
  5. craft — boats
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. clip — a video
  8. season — of the year
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. clip — to cut
  13. bear — the animal
  14. stem — to come from
  15. bear — the animal
  16. clip — for paper
  17. hand — in cards
  18. wake — a trail
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. season — in sport
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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