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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. sharp — clever
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. court — of law
  8. rock — music
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. craft — a skill
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. lie — to recline
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. court — of a king
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. craft — boats
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. court — for sport

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