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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. bound — tied together
  3. craft — a skill
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. bound — obliged
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. board — a committee
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. game — a match
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. foot — a measure
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bulb — for light
  18. game — wild animals
  19. board — to get on
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bound — certain
  22. craft — boats
  23. bulb — for light
  24. craft — a handicraft

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