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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 · wake · cell · rash · spell · key · mark · stand

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. key — in music
  6. mark — a grade
  7. craft — a skill
  8. spell — letters
  9. stand — to bear
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. mark — a trace
  12. craft — boats
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. rash — hasty
  16. spell — a short time
  17. key — the most important part
  18. cell — in biology
  19. key — for a lock
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. rash — a series
  22. spell — magic
  23. cell — a phone
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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