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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: pitcher · staff · craft · hide · deal · toast · racket · spring

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. spring — the season
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. spring — a coil
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. staff — employees
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. staff — a stick
  17. craft — boats
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. staff — employees
  20. deal — to handle
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. toast — bread
  23. spring — of water
  24. craft — a skill

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