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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
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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: spring · roll · craft · temple · sharp · pitcher · can · lean

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. roll — a list
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. spring — of water
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. lean — thin
  9. spring — a coil
  10. lean — to bend
  11. sharp — clever
  12. can — to be able to
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. spring — the season
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. roll — a cake
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. craft — boats
  20. craft — a skill
  21. can — a tin
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. can — a tin
  24. lean — to rest against

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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