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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.

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: coach · deal · snap · rush · craft · racket · cabinet · sharp

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. craft — a skill
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. craft — boats
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. snap — to click
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. rush — hurry
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. sharp — clever
  19. deal — to handle
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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