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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
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: lie · row · hide · mate · coach · craft · arm · sharp

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. mate — a partner
  3. lie — to recline
  4. row — a line
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. row — to paddle
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. sharp — clever
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. craft — boats
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. mate — to breed
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. mate — a friend
  24. arm — a part of something

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