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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bound — obliged
  3. stem — to come from
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. craft — a skill
  6. swing — in golf
  7. swing — music
  8. club — for dancing
  9. bound — certain
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. craft — boats
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. club — for golf
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. ball — a great time
  20. swing — to play on
  21. ball — a dance
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. club — a group
  24. stem — of a plant

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