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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.

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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: lash · net · stock · bowl · spell · leaves · craft · can

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. stock — goods
  3. net — after costs
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. spell — a short time
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — to be able to
  10. craft — a skill
  11. net — for catching
  12. spell — letters
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. spell — magic
  15. net — in sport
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. can — a tin
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. stock — shares
  22. craft — boats
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. craft — a handicraft

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