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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mate · craft · leaves · tube · rash · jam · saw · vault

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. tube — the underground
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. saw — the tool
  7. craft — a skill
  8. mate — a partner
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. rash — hasty
  12. mate — to breed
  13. saw — the tool
  14. vault — a safe
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. craft — boats
  17. mate — a friend
  18. rash — a series
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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