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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 120 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: craft · mate · bank · dip · saw · calf · bore · rush

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. dip — to sink
  4. craft — boats
  5. mate — a partner
  6. craft — a skill
  7. saw — the tool
  8. mate — a friend
  9. bore — to tire
  10. mate — to breed
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. bore — to drill
  14. bank — for money
  15. rush — hurry
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. bank — for money
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. saw — the tool
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. calf — a young animal

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