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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
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 · wound · can · leaves · toast · safe · drill · deal

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. drill — army training
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. wound — an injury
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. can — a tin
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. craft — a skill
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. can — a tin
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. craft — boats
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. wound — an injury
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. toast — bread
  20. deal — to handle
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. can — to be able to
  24. drill — a practice

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