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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. craft — a skill
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. ball — a dance
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. ball — a great time
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. tube — a container
  11. cue — a signal
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. bass — the fish
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. cue — for pool
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. craft — boats
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. bass — low music
  23. cue — a hint
  24. tube — the underground

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