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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: craft · season · mug · key · wound · prune · lie · cabinet

  1. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. season — in sport
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. key — for a lock
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. key — the most important part
  7. key — in music
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. craft — boats
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. mug — a face
  12. prune — to trim
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. wound — an injury
  17. lie — to recline
  18. craft — a skill
  19. season — of the year
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mug — to rob
  24. prune — to trim

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