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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 120 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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. plane — a tool
  4. bulb — for light
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. last — final
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. stock — shares
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. last — to go on
  12. wake — a trail
  13. craft — a skill
  14. key — the most important part
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. stock — goods
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. key — for a lock
  19. craft — boats
  20. last — finally
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bulb — for light
  23. hand — in cards
  24. hand — help

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