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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: race · arm · craft · cue · ball · nail · bulb · pass

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  5. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. bulb — for light
  3. cue — for pool
  4. race — a contest
  5. race — the arms race
  6. pass — a permit
  7. ball — a great time
  8. craft — a skill
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. cue — a hint
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. bulb — for light
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. race — humankind
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. ball — a dance
  23. craft — boats
  24. cue — a signal

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