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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. degree — from a university
  3. toast — bread
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. craft — boats
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. staff — employees
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. staff — employees
  11. row — to paddle
  12. row — a line
  13. craft — a skill
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. degree — an amount
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. staff — a stick
  21. fine — high quality
  22. degree — temperature
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. fine — all right

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