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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. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  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. kick — a thrill
  2. scale — in music
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. staff — employees
  6. kick — in football
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. staff — employees
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. mug — a face
  12. staff — a stick
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. scale — size or range
  18. mug — to rob
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. craft — a skill
  22. mug — a cup
  23. scale — for weighing
  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