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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: nail · suit · leaves · wake · foot · shower · craft · prune

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. craft — boats
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. prune — to trim
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. shower — to wash
  15. wake — a trail
  16. shower — rain
  17. craft — a skill
  18. foot — a measure
  19. prune — to trim
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. suit — clothes
  24. suit — in cards

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