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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.

Make a worksheet

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
YesNo
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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: chest · scale · rush · racket · craft · mug · bay · leaves

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. chest — a box
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. chest — of your body
  6. mug — to rob
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. craft — boats
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. scale — in music
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. chest — of your body
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. scale — size or range
  20. mug — a face
  21. mug — a cup
  22. rush — hurry
  23. craft — a skill
  24. rush — a thrill

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