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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: mine · shower · bank · calf · jam · pass · craft · foot

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. shower — rain
  3. craft — boats
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. craft — a skill
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. foot — a measure
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. shower — to wash
  12. bank — for money
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. bank — for money
  16. mine — for digging
  17. pass — a permit
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. bank — of a river
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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