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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 120 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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. pass — a permit
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. drill — a practice
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. shower — to wash
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. march — the month
  13. foot — a measure
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. march — the month
  16. shower — rain
  17. march — music
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. craft — boats
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. craft — a skill
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. drill — the tool
  24. drill — army training

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