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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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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. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. swing — in golf
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. suit — in cards
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. hand — help
  7. present — a gift
  8. swing — music
  9. craft — boats
  10. swing — to play on
  11. suit — to fit
  12. prune — to trim
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. present — there
  15. hand — in cards
  16. pit — a hole
  17. suit — clothes
  18. prune — to trim
  19. pit — in a race
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. stand — to bear
  22. craft — a skill
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. present — the time now

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