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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: jam · nail · cue · field · craft · lie · bank · dip

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. cue — a signal
  8. bank — for money
  9. field — farmland
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. field — for sport
  13. lie — to recline
  14. bank — of a river
  15. craft — a skill
  16. bank — for money
  17. cue — for pool
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. dip — to sink
  21. field — a subject
  22. cue — a hint
  23. craft — boats
  24. jam — in traffic

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