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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: craft · ground · fan · bank · pitcher · coach · pass · lash

  1. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. craft — a skill
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. bank — for money
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. ground — crushed
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. pass — a permit
  14. ground — a position
  15. ground — the earth
  16. bank — for money
  17. bank — of a river
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. craft — boats
  24. pass — to succeed

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