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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. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — a break
  2. row — to paddle
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. ground — the earth
  6. suit — clothes
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. mine — for digging
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. suit — to fit
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. suit — in cards
  13. rush — hurry
  14. craft — a skill
  15. craft — boats
  16. rest — what's left
  17. ground — a position
  18. ground — crushed
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rest — what's left
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. row — a line

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