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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
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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: saw · suit · tube · craft · rush · plane · scale · hand

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  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. scale — size or range
  2. saw — the tool
  3. hand — help
  4. suit — to fit
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. saw — the tool
  7. scale — in music
  8. tube — the underground
  9. tube — a container
  10. suit — clothes
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. suit — in cards
  15. hand — in cards
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. plane — a tool
  19. rush — hurry
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. craft — a skill
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. craft — boats

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