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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 120 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: wave · craft · fall · deal · pitcher · cue · season · bear

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  7. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  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. wave — with your hand
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. deal — to handle
  4. bear — the animal
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. fall — to drop
  7. fall — to drop
  8. bear — the animal
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. season — of the year
  13. fall — the season
  14. cue — a hint
  15. cue — for pool
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. craft — boats
  19. season — in sport
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. cue — a signal
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. wave — of the sea
  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