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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 116 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: craft · pass · cabinet · wave · fan · spell · game · sharp

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. spell — letters
  6. sharp — clever
  7. spell — a short time
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. craft — boats
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. craft — a skill
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. pass — a permit
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. game — wild animals
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. spell — magic

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