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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: file · fine · craft · bulb · row · lash · cabinet · leaves

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. craft — boats
  4. row — a line
  5. file — a document
  6. craft — a skill
  7. fine — all right
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. bulb — for light
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. bulb — for light
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. fine — high quality
  21. file — a tool
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. file — a line of people
  24. cabinet — ministers

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