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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: bulb · craft · swing · drill · bay · mug · last · lie

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. mug — a face
  3. craft — boats
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. swing — in golf
  6. last — to go on
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. swing — music
  9. lie — to recline
  10. swing — to play on
  11. bulb — for light
  12. drill — the tool
  13. last — finally
  14. bulb — for light
  15. drill — a practice
  16. mug — to rob
  17. last — final
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. drill — army training
  20. mug — a cup
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. craft — a skill
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. bulb — of a plant

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