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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. craft — a skill
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. field — a subject
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. field — farmland
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. field — for sport
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. stand — to bear
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. craft — boats
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. toast — bread
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. arm — part of the body

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