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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: craft · prune · foot · drill · chip · temple · bulb · mug

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. drill — a practice
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. drill — army training
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. bulb — for light
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. foot — a measure
  9. mug — a cup
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. mug — to rob
  12. chip — for betting
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. mug — a face
  17. chip — to eat
  18. prune — to trim
  19. craft — a skill
  20. drill — the tool
  21. bulb — for light
  22. prune — to trim
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. craft — boats

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