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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: craft · calf · dip · saw · safe · deal · stock · band

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. saw — the tool
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. band — a ring
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. stock — shares
  10. deal — to handle
  11. saw — the tool
  12. stock — goods
  13. band — a music group
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. craft — boats
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. dip — to sink
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. craft — a skill
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. stock — a soup base

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