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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: can · craft · lean · plane · chip · racket · jam · rash

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. can — to be able to
  3. craft — a skill
  4. plane — a tool
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. chip — for betting
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. lean — thin
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. rash — hasty
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. rash — a series
  18. lean — to bend
  19. craft — boats
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. can — a tin
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. chip — to eat

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