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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: last · bound · game · craft · mine · mug · sharp · can

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. mine — for digging
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. craft — boats
  6. game — wild animals
  7. craft — a skill
  8. last — final
  9. bound — obliged
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — to be able to
  12. mug — a cup
  13. sharp — clever
  14. game — a match
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. last — finally
  17. can — a tin
  18. bound — certain
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. last — to go on
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. mug — a face
  24. mug — to rob

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