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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. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. rock — a stone
  5. craft — a skill
  6. pass — a permit
  7. last — to go on
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. craft — boats
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. last — final
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. sharp — clever
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. rock — music
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. perch — the fish
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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