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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. bound — tied together
  3. craft — boats
  4. ball — a dance
  5. suit — clothes
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. bound — obliged
  8. craft — a skill
  9. fine — high quality
  10. suit — in cards
  11. rash — hasty
  12. fine — all right
  13. sharp — clever
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. bound — certain
  18. suit — to fit
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. ball — a great time
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. rash — a series

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