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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: last · cue · staff · coach · craft · can · march · arm

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. last — to go on
  4. craft — boats
  5. march — the month
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. march — music
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. last — final
  10. craft — a skill
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. can — to be able to
  13. staff — a stick
  14. can — a tin
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. staff — employees
  17. last — finally
  18. cue — for pool
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. cue — a hint
  22. march — the month
  23. cue — a signal
  24. staff — employees

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