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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. pop — music
  3. root — of a word
  4. pop — to visit
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. lean — thin
  7. root — of a plant
  8. net — for catching
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. craft — boats
  11. lean — to bend
  12. pop — soda
  13. craft — a skill
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. net — after costs
  18. root — the cause
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. net — in sport

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