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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 116 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. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. shower — to wash
  4. perch — the fish
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. staff — employees
  7. staff — employees
  8. row — a line
  9. can — a tin
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. bass — low music
  13. mark — a trace
  14. row — to paddle
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. shower — rain
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. bass — the fish
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. staff — a stick
  22. mark — a grade
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. craft — boats

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