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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 120 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. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. craft — boats
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. mine — for digging
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. staff — employees
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. file — a tool
  11. mug — to rob
  12. mug — a cup
  13. staff — employees
  14. craft — a skill
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. staff — a stick
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. file — a line of people
  19. pass — a permit
  20. file — a document
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. mug — a face

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