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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. wake — a trail
  4. bass — the fish
  5. craft — boats
  6. bound — certain
  7. cue — a signal
  8. cue — for pool
  9. bound — obliged
  10. bound — tied together
  11. foot — a measure
  12. saw — the tool
  13. craft — a skill
  14. bass — low music
  15. cue — a hint
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. saw — the tool

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