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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: bark · firm · craft · toast · ball · chip · pit · mate

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. toast — bread
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. firm — decided
  5. chip — for betting
  6. pit — in a race
  7. mate — a friend
  8. mate — a partner
  9. bark — a dog's sound
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. bark — to shout
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. mate — to breed
  15. pit — a hole
  16. chip — to eat
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. ball — a dance
  19. ball — a great time
  20. bark — of a tree
  21. firm — steady
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. firm — a company
  24. craft — boats

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