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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: squash · craft · saw · tube · rock · key · racket · stem

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. saw — the tool
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. stem — to come from
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. key — in music
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. tube — the underground
  10. tube — a container
  11. saw — the tool
  12. squash — the sport
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. squash — to crush
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. key — for a lock
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. craft — boats
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. rock — a stone
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. rock — music
  23. key — the most important part
  24. craft — a handicraft

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