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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 116 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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. fine — high quality
  4. march — music
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. mug — a cup
  8. squash — to crush
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. fine — all right
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. face — part of the head
  13. face — to point toward
  14. tube — a container
  15. squash — the sport
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. mug — to rob
  18. face — to confront
  19. mug — a face
  20. march — the month
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. tube — the underground
  23. craft — boats
  24. craft — a skill

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