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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: leaves · pitcher · craft · lean · safe · file · object · bay

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. lean — to bend
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. craft — boats
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. craft — a skill
  12. object — a thing
  13. object — to protest
  14. object — an aim
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. lean — thin
  19. file — a tool
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. file — a line of people
  24. file — a document

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