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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: bound · spell · coach · pitch · craft · mouse · dip · calf

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. pitch — completely
  3. spell — letters
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. dip — to sink
  9. bound — obliged
  10. craft — boats
  11. spell — a short time
  12. spell — magic
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. bound — tied together
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. bound — certain
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. craft — a skill
  24. mouse — the animal

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