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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. foot — a measure
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. toast — bread
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. row — to paddle
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. craft — a skill
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. row — a line
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. craft — boats

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