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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. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — to recline
  4. fine — high quality
  5. rock — music
  6. sharp — clever
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. rock — a stone
  10. pop — to visit
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. fine — all right
  14. season — of the year
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. craft — boats
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. stand — to bear
  21. season — in sport
  22. pop — soda
  23. craft — a skill
  24. pop — music

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