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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. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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. craft — boats
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. club — a group
  6. staff — a stick
  7. field — farmland
  8. field — for sport
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. field — a subject
  12. cue — for pool
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. season — in sport
  15. club — for dancing
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. cue — a signal
  18. staff — employees
  19. staff — employees
  20. season — of the year
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. club — for golf
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. craft — a skill

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