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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. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — boats
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. craft — a skill
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. game — wild animals
  6. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  7. march — the month
  8. kid — to tease
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. game — a match
  13. fine — high quality
  14. march — the month
  15. march — music
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. staff — employees
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. kid — child
  21. fine — all right
  22. staff — a stick
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. staff — employees

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