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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.

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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: perch · current · craft · plane · lie · ball · foot · pitcher

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. current — happening now
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. lie — to recline
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. current — of water
  7. ball — a dance
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. plane — a tool
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. craft — a skill
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. current — electric
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. foot — a measure
  20. ball — a great time
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. craft — boats
  24. perch — the fish

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