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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. craft — boats
  4. craft — a skill
  5. bass — low music
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. hand — help
  10. march — music
  11. march — the month
  12. hand — in cards
  13. mug — a cup
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mug — a face
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. bass — the fish
  19. march — the month
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. craft — a handicraft

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