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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. craft — a skill
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. bulb — for light
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. suit — clothes
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. pop — soda
  12. pop — to visit
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. bound — certain
  15. scale — in music
  16. bound — tied together
  17. suit — to fit
  18. suit — in cards
  19. bound — obliged
  20. pop — music
  21. craft — boats
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bulb — of a plant

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