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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. key — in music
  5. stock — goods
  6. saw — the tool
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. foot — a measure
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. craft — a skill
  15. board — to get on
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. key — for a lock
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. key — the most important part
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. craft — boats
  23. stock — shares
  24. board — a committee

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