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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: craft · pop · rock · mark · lash · board · land · pit

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. When are we going to ________________?
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. board — to get on
  3. rock — music
  4. mark — a trace
  5. land — to come down
  6. mark — a grade
  7. land — a country
  8. rock — a stone
  9. craft — a skill
  10. land — ground
  11. board — a committee
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. pit — in a race
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. pop — to visit
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. craft — boats
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. pop — soda
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. pop — music
  24. pit — a hole

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