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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. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. craft — boats
  4. stock — shares
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. rest — what's left
  7. saw — the tool
  8. rock — music
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. craft — a skill
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. rock — a stone
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. staff — employees
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. staff — employees
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. saw — the tool
  20. rest — a break
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. stock — goods
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rest — what's left

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