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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
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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 · wax · wave · foot · sharp · leaves · plane · trunk

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. craft — a skill
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. craft — boats
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. plane — a tool
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. foot — a measure
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. wax — to grow
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. sharp — clever
  24. leaves — lets stay

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