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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: current · saw · board · scale · spell · craft · pitcher · tube

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. current — of water
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. spell — letters
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. board — to get on
  10. tube — a container
  11. current — electric
  12. current — happening now
  13. saw — the tool
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. spell — a short time
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. craft — boats
  19. craft — a skill
  20. saw — the tool
  21. spell — magic
  22. tube — the underground
  23. board — a committee
  24. scale — in music

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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