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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'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. firm — decided
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. branch — a division
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. stock — shares
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. craft — boats
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. firm — a company
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. firm — steady
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. craft — a skill
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. stock — goods
  22. cue — for pool
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. cue — a signal

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