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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
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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: game · drill · hide · trunk · rash · pitch · craft · wax

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. craft — a skill
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. drill — the tool
  5. wax — to grow
  6. game — wild animals
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. rash — a series
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. craft — boats
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. rash — hasty
  14. pitch — completely
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. game — a match
  20. drill — army training
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. hide — to keep secret

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