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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. branch — a division
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. craft — a skill
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. ball — a dance
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. craft — boats
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. swing — in golf
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. ball — a great time
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. swing — to play on
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. safe — out of danger

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