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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.

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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 · toast · wax · ground · leaves · bay · file · arm

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. file — a tool
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. file — a line of people
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. ground — crushed
  11. wax — to grow
  12. file — a document
  13. craft — a skill
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. ground — the earth
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. toast — bread
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. craft — boats
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. ground — a position

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