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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: squash · rush · net · cabinet · mug · bay · craft · temple

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. mug — a face
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. net — for catching
  6. mug — to rob
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. mug — a cup
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. craft — boats
  11. rush — hurry
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. net — in sport
  17. squash — the sport
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. squash — to crush
  20. net — after costs
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. cabinet — ministers

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