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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. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. pop — soda
  3. pop — music
  4. season — in sport
  5. foot — a measure
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. object — an aim
  8. content — the amount
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. board — a committee
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. pop — to visit
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. object — to protest
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. craft — boats
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. season — of the year
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. object — a thing
  23. content — happy
  24. board — to get on

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