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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 · wake · rest · tube · drill · roll · charge · calf

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. tube — the underground
  3. roll — a list
  4. rest — what's left
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. tube — a container
  7. drill — the tool
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. charge — a price
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. rest — a break
  13. drill — a practice
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. charge — electricity
  16. wake — a trail
  17. craft — a skill
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. rest — what's left
  21. charge — in control
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. roll — a cake
  24. craft — boats

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