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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: rash · swing · pitch · foot · straw · coach · season · craft

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. craft — boats
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. pitch — completely
  7. season — of the year
  8. season — in sport
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. swing — music
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. foot — a measure
  21. swing — to play on
  22. rash — hasty
  23. craft — a skill
  24. swing — in golf

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