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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: clip · firm · bay · plane · craft · jam · key · hand

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. clip — a video
  4. firm — decided
  5. plane — a tool
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. craft — boats
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. hand — help
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. craft — a skill
  13. hand — in cards
  14. firm — steady
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. key — in music
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. clip — to cut
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. key — the most important part
  22. clip — for paper
  23. key — for a lock
  24. firm — a company

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