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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: field · net · toast · calf · craft · cue · rock · pitch

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. craft — a skill
  3. net — after costs
  4. rock — a stone
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. cue — for pool
  8. rock — music
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. field — for sport
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. field — farmland
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. field — a subject
  15. craft — boats
  16. cue — a signal
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. cue — a hint
  19. net — for catching
  20. net — in sport
  21. toast — bread
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. calf — of the leg

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