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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bound — obliged
  3. swing — in golf
  4. mate — to breed
  5. ball — a great time
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. foot — a measure
  8. bound — certain
  9. current — of water
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. mate — a partner
  12. craft — a skill
  13. mate — a friend
  14. current — electric
  15. craft — boats
  16. swing — to play on
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. swing — music
  19. current — happening now
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. ball — a dance
  24. safe — out of danger

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