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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: fan · lash · craft · jam · track · bay · wake · pitch

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  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. craft — a skill
  2. wake — a trail
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. track — to keep track
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. track — a path
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. pitch — completely
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. track — a song
  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