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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 120 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 · mug · perch · can · pass · mine · plane · calf

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. can — a tin
  3. pass — a permit
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. mug — a face
  6. perch — the fish
  7. plane — a tool
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. mug — to rob
  14. craft — a skill
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. mug — a cup
  19. can — to be able to
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. can — a tin
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. mine — for digging
  24. craft — boats

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