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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. club — for golf
  4. current — happening now
  5. craft — boats
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. pass — a permit
  9. craft — a skill
  10. current — electric
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. lie — to recline
  16. rock — music
  17. current — of water
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. date — the fruit
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. club — a group
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. club — for dancing
  24. craft — a handicraft

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