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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.

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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: kick · ball · dip · deal · coach · staff · pitcher · craft

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. dip — to sink
  8. staff — employees
  9. kick — in football
  10. craft — a skill
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. craft — boats
  15. staff — employees
  16. ball — a great time
  17. ball — a dance
  18. kick — a thrill
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. staff — a stick
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. deal — to handle
  24. kick — with a 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