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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. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. cue — a hint
  3. branch — a division
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. stem — to come from
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. fine — all right
  9. cue — for pool
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cue — a signal
  12. craft — a skill
  13. fine — high quality
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. rush — hurry
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. snap — to click
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. craft — boats
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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