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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: craft · last · roll · bulb · pass · bay · hand · mug

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. pass — a permit
  5. mug — to rob
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. bulb — for light
  9. hand — in cards
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. hand — help
  12. roll — a list
  13. last — final
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. mug — a face
  17. last — finally
  18. bulb — for light
  19. last — to go on
  20. mug — a cup
  21. roll — a cake
  22. craft — boats
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. pass — to succeed

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