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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: craft · coach · season · can · pit · leaves · bowl · foot

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. season — in sport
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. craft — a skill
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. can — a tin
  7. pit — a hole
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. can — to be able to
  12. can — a tin
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. season — of the year
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. foot — a measure
  21. pit — in a race
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. craft — boats
  24. bowl — to roll

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