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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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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: stick · craft · deal · ruler · mark · arm · key · date

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. mark — a grade
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. key — the most important part
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. mark — a trace
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. date — the fruit
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. key — for a lock
  21. craft — a skill
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. craft — boats
  24. deal — to handle

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