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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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. rash — hasty
  4. bass — low music
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. bound — tied together
  8. craft — a skill
  9. bound — obliged
  10. rash — a series
  11. bass — the fish
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. bound — certain
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. suit — clothes
  20. suit — in cards
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. craft — boats
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. suit — to fit

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