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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: tube · cabinet · mug · craft · sharp · ball · rush · stock

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. mug — a face
  3. ball — a great time
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. tube — a container
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. craft — a skill
  9. craft — boats
  10. sharp — clever
  11. tube — the underground
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. rush — hurry
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. ball — a dance
  17. mug — a cup
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. stock — shares
  21. mug — to rob
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. stock — goods
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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