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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. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. deal — to handle
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. bulb — for light
  5. root — of a word
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. fork — in a road
  8. bark — a dog's sound
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. bulb — for light
  11. toast — bread
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. root — the cause
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. root — of a plant
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. bark — to shout
  22. craft — a skill
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. craft — boats

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