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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: pitcher · file · bank · march · craft · saw · wax · lie

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. lie — to recline
  3. saw — the tool
  4. bank — for money
  5. craft — a skill
  6. march — music
  7. file — a tool
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. craft — boats
  12. bank — for money
  13. file — a line of people
  14. saw — the tool
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. march — the month
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. wax — to grow
  21. bank — of a river
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. march — the month

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