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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. bear — the animal
  4. cell — a phone
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. craft — boats
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. stock — shares
  10. sharp — clever
  11. key — for a lock
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. cell — in biology
  15. mate — a friend
  16. mate — a partner
  17. stock — goods
  18. bear — the animal
  19. mate — to breed
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. key — in music
  22. craft — a skill
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. key — the most important part

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