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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: mug · deal · bass · craft · calf · hand · bowl · trunk

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. mug — a cup
  4. craft — a skill
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. craft — boats
  8. mug — a face
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. hand — help
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. bass — low music
  18. deal — to handle
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. mug — to rob
  21. hand — in cards
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. bass — the fish

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