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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. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. mate — a friend
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. lie — to recline
  7. craft — a skill
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. track — to keep track
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. track — a path
  13. row — to paddle
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. mate — a partner
  17. craft — boats
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. track — a song
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. mate — to breed
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. temple — side of the head

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