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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. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. object — an aim
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. bore — to drill
  7. craft — a skill
  8. bore — to tire
  9. ball — a great time
  10. ball — a dance
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. present — there
  14. craft — boats
  15. present — a gift
  16. present — the time now
  17. object — to protest
  18. game — a match
  19. cell — a phone
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. game — wild animals
  24. object — a thing

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