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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. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. firm — steady
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. file — a tool
  6. file — a line of people
  7. can — a tin
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. can — a tin
  11. firm — a company
  12. craft — boats
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. face — to confront
  15. can — to be able to
  16. face — part of the head
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. face — to point toward
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. file — a document
  22. saw — the tool
  23. firm — decided
  24. saw — the tool

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