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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: fan · dip · club · saw · craft · rock · pit · temple

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. craft — boats
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. rock — a stone
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. saw — the tool
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. pit — a hole
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. club — for dancing
  15. pit — in a race
  16. craft — a skill
  17. dip — to sink
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. saw — the tool
  23. club — a group
  24. club — for golf

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