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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. mark — a trace
  3. cue — a signal
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. mine — for digging
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. lie — to recline
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. branch — a division
  14. cue — for pool
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. craft — boats
  20. craft — a skill
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. cue — a hint
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. nail — on a finger

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