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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  19. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. key — the most important part
  3. key — in music
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. current — of water
  6. wound — an injury
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. clip — for paper
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. cue — a hint
  11. cue — for pool
  12. ball — a dance
  13. wound — an injury
  14. key — for a lock
  15. cue — a signal
  16. ball — a great time
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. clip — a video
  19. clip — to cut
  20. current — electric
  21. current — happening now
  22. craft — a skill
  23. craft — boats
  24. fan — a supporter

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