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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 120 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: calf · pitch · mine · rock · craft · drill · mark · leaves

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. drill — army training
  3. mark — a trace
  4. drill — the tool
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. rock — a stone
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. mine — for digging
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. craft — a skill
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. rock — music
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. drill — a practice
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. mark — a grade
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. craft — boats
  24. pitch — completely

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