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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: foot · file · bowl · jam · craft · cue · plane · coach

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. file — a line of people
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. cue — for pool
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. cue — a signal
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. file — a document
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. plane — a tool
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. foot — a measure
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. craft — boats
  22. cue — a hint
  23. file — a tool
  24. bowl — a football final

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