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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 116 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: key · bass · craft · calf · root · deal · suit · straw

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. suit — clothes
  4. key — for a lock
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. suit — in cards
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. bass — the fish
  9. root — the cause
  10. key — the most important part
  11. suit — to fit
  12. key — in music
  13. craft — boats
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. root — of a plant
  17. root — of a word
  18. bass — low music
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. deal — to handle
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. straw — to clutch at straws

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