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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: rash · cabinet · sharp · nail · cue · craft · ground · plane

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. cue — a signal
  3. ground — the earth
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. craft — a skill
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. rash — a series
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. rash — hasty
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. ground — crushed
  16. plane — a tool
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. cue — a hint
  19. ground — a position
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. cue — for pool
  22. sharp — clever
  23. craft — boats
  24. nail — for a hammer

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