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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: leaves · plane · track · roll · bay · saw · craft · cabinet

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. saw — the tool
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. track — a path
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. craft — boats
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. plane — a tool
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. roll — a list
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. track — a song
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. track — to keep track
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. craft — a skill
  22. saw — the tool
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. bay — a horse colour

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