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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. craft — boats
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. court — of a king
  5. pitch — completely
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. staff — employees
  8. mark — a grade
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. staff — employees
  11. craft — a skill
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. prune — to trim
  14. season — in sport
  15. rock — a stone
  16. court — of law
  17. staff — a stick
  18. prune — to trim
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. season — of the year
  21. rock — music
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. court — for sport

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