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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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: face · stock · rush · trunk · cabinet · craft · last · pitcher

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. stock — shares
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. face — to confront
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. face — part of the head
  10. last — finally
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. last — final
  13. stock — goods
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. last — to go on
  17. craft — a skill
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. face — to point toward
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. rush — hurry
  23. craft — boats
  24. pitcher — a jug

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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