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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: craft · last · root · calf · toast · deal · bass · cabinet

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. root — of a plant
  4. craft — boats
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. last — to go on
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. craft — a skill
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. last — finally
  13. last — final
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. bass — low music
  16. root — the cause
  17. toast — bread
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. deal — to handle
  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