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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.

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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: craft · cap · season · present · can · key · saw · rock

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. rock — a stone
  3. can — a tin
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. saw — the tool
  6. can — a tin
  7. cap — of ice
  8. cap — a hat
  9. present — there
  10. saw — the tool
  11. cap — a lid
  12. season — in sport
  13. rock — music
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. key — the most important part
  16. craft — a skill
  17. season — of the year
  18. key — in music
  19. key — for a lock
  20. present — a gift
  21. can — to be able to
  22. craft — boats
  23. present — the time now
  24. craft — a handicraft

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