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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 120 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. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. fine — high quality
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. staff — employees
  6. bound — obliged
  7. stock — shares
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. craft — boats
  10. staff — employees
  11. staff — a stick
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. drill — the tool
  14. drill — a practice
  15. fine — all right
  16. stock — goods
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. drill — army training
  19. bound — certain
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. bound — tied together
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. stock — a soup base

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