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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: rock · craft · track · ball · perch · bear · spell · safe

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. track — a path
  3. bear — the animal
  4. spell — letters
  5. craft — a skill
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. track — a song
  8. rock — a stone
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. ball — a great time
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. bear — the animal
  13. spell — magic
  14. perch — the fish
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. track — to keep track
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. ball — a dance
  20. rock — music
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. craft — boats

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