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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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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: hide · mug · sharp · foot · craft · arm · jam · coach

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. craft — boats
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. sharp — clever
  5. foot — a measure
  6. mug — to rob
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. mug — a cup
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. craft — a skill
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. mug — a face
  24. hide — to keep secret

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