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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: can · craft · pitch · nail · cabinet · press · cell · track

  1. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. He was locked up in a ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. can — a tin
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. cell — in biology
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. pitch — completely
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. craft — boats
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. can — to be able to
  12. press — to push
  13. track — a song
  14. can — a tin
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. cell — in a prison
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. track — a path
  19. track — to keep track
  20. press — newspapers
  21. craft — a skill
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. press — a publisher
  24. cell — a phone

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