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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. kick — with a leg
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. bound — tied together
  5. craft — boats
  6. key — the most important part
  7. key — in music
  8. kick — a thrill
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. key — for a lock
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. bound — obliged
  14. craft — a skill
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. rock — a stone
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. rock — music
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. kick — in football
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. bound — certain

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