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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. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. craft — a skill
  3. fine — high quality
  4. season — in sport
  5. mate — a partner
  6. mug — a cup
  7. craft — boats
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. mug — to rob
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. season — of the year
  13. toast — bread
  14. net — for catching
  15. mate — to breed
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. mug — a face
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. mate — a friend
  21. board — a committee
  22. net — in sport
  23. board — to get on
  24. fine — all right

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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