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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: land · root · mark · craft · rush · board · fine · ball

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. ball — a dance
  3. mark — a grade
  4. root — of a word
  5. root — the cause
  6. craft — boats
  7. land — ground
  8. board — to get on
  9. ball — a great time
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. fine — all right
  12. land — a country
  13. root — of a plant
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. fine — high quality
  17. mark — a trace
  18. land — to come down
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. board — a committee
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. craft — a skill
  24. rush — hurry

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